According to the latest reports, Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17 Pro Max this September, featuring significant upgrades. Additionally, the company may introduce its first-ever iPhone Ultra model.

iPhone 17 Pro Max to be thicker for a larger battery?

Renowned leaker Ice Universe recently shared on X that the next-generation iPhone 17 Pro Max will have a thickness of 8.725mm, up from 8.25mm on the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

While a 0.5mm increase may seem minor, it could be just enough to house a larger battery without affecting the overall ergonomics of the device.

A concept design of the iPhone 17 Pro Max has also surfaced, suggesting that Apple might refine the Dynamic Island, making it smaller and possibly exclusive to the Pro Max model.

Additionally, 9to5Mac has speculated that the Pro Max version could feature a vapor chamber cooling system, which would further enhance its performance. These enhancements suggest that Apple may be laying the groundwork for the rumored Ultra model.

Aside from thickness, the dimensions of the iPhone 17 Pro Max are expected to remain unchanged from its predecessor, as Apple rarely makes drastic design changes annually. However, some reports suggest the camera module could see adjustments, and the device’s rear panel might incorporate aluminum rather than being entirely glass. If true, this would mark a major design shift.

Ice Universe also noted on Weibo, "The iPhone 17 Pro Max looks powerful, and its increased thickness suggests a larger battery capacity." While this remains speculation for now, Apple’s decision to alter the size of the device could signal significant internal changes.

iPhone 17 Air: A thinner but equally large model?

Ice Universe also provided insight into the dimensions of the rumored iPhone 17 Air. Contrary to expectations that it would be a slimmer version of the iPhone 16 Plus, the iPhone 17 Air is reported to have the same length, width, display size, and bezels as the iPhone 17 Pro Max - differing only in thickness.

The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be just 5.5mm thick, compared to the 8.725mm thickness of the iPhone 17 Pro Max. This means the iPhone 17 Air could feature a large display similar to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, estimated at 6.9 inches.

However, some differences are expected. Reports indicate that the iPhone 17 Air may be equipped with Apple’s C1 modem, similar to the recently introduced iPhone 16e. This suggests that it may not support mmWave 5G, a feature available in the iPhone 16 Pro Max and likely the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The omission of mmWave in the iPhone 17 Air could be due to its ultra-thin design, which may not allow enough space for the necessary hardware. This raises the question of whether future ultra-thin iPhones will have to sacrifice mmWave support.

Will Apple introduce the iPhone 17 Ultra?

Ryan Christoffel, a journalist from 9to5Mac, has speculated that Apple’s decision to make the iPhone 17 Pro Max thicker while simultaneously introducing a super-thin iPhone 17 Air suggests a broader strategy. He theorizes that Apple could be rebranding the iPhone 17 Pro Max as the iPhone 17 Ultra.

If this happens, the iPhone lineup could see a significant transformation, consisting of:

iPhone 17

iPhone 17 Air

iPhone 17 Pro

iPhone 17 Ultra

Such a move would be a major shift in Apple’s product lineup and could be aimed at reinvigorating interest in the iPhone amid slowing sales.

However, it remains uncertain whether Apple will implement such a dramatic change. Currently, the company maintains a relatively straightforward lineup, consisting of standard iPhones in two sizes (iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus), Pro models in two sizes (iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max), and a more affordable variant (iPhone 16e).

In recent years, Apple has simplified its product offerings by cutting certain models. Introducing a more complex lineup could contradict this strategy. However, Apple has a history of surprising consumers, and this fall's launch event could bring unexpected announcements.

Hai Phong