WEB DESK: In a strategic shift, Apple is anticipated to discontinue its iPhone “Plus” model in 2025, making way for a new contender, tentatively dubbed the iPhone “Slim.”
While the exact name remains under wraps, industry insiders predict an autumn launch next year. Early rumours about new iPhone models are not uncommon; details about the iPhone 16 Pro’s larger displays were already circulating by May 2023.
Reports from The Information suggest that the iPhone 17 “Slim” might carry a heftier price tag than the current Pro Max, which starts at $1,199. This points to the “Slim” potentially being the priciest in Apple’s lineup, possibly even marketed as the “iPhone Ultra,” a name speculated upon for several years.
The iPhone 17 “Slim” is expected to sport a significantly thinner design with an aluminium chassis, moving away from the titanium casings seen in the Pro models. Additionally, it may feature a narrower Dynamic Island, thanks to Apple’s use of a smaller “metalens” for the Face ID system. Code-named D23 internally, this redesign could be as transformative as the iPhone X was.
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Analysts have provided varying display size predictions: Jeff Pu of Haitong International Securities suggests a 6.6-inch screen, while Ross Young from Display Supply Chain Consultants predicts a slightly smaller 6.55-inch display. For reference, the iPhone 15 Plus has a 6.7-inch display, indicating that Apple is still fine-tuning the design ahead of its official launch.
Notably, the iPhone 17 “Slim” might introduce a new camera layout, positioning the rear cameras at the “top centre” of the device, diverging from the top-left corner setup that has been standard since the original iPhone. This layout resembles that of some Android devices, like Google’s Pixel 8 Pro.
Prominent Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo forecasts that the iPhone 17 series will feature a 24-megapixel front-facing camera with a six-element lens, a significant upgrade from the current 12-megapixel cameras with five-element lenses in the iPhone 14 and 15. The increased resolution and additional lens element promise to enhance photo quality, especially for cropped or zoomed images.
Jeff Pu also notes that the iPhone 17 “Slim” will come with 8GB of RAM, up from the 6GB in the iPhone 15 Plus, aligning with the hardware demands for Apple’s on-device intelligence. The new model will reportedly be powered by Apple’s upcoming A19 chip.
As we await the debut of the iPhone 16 series, these insights offer a tantalizing glimpse into Apple’s future innovations. With its anticipated design overhaul, upgraded camera capabilities, and potential to become Apple’s highest-end model, the iPhone 17 “Slim” is already sparking significant interest and speculation.
