The iPhone 17 Air, expected to launch later this year, is rumored to feature an impressively slim design - but that sleek form factor comes with trade-offs that may not sit well with every user.

Apple is set to unveil the thinnest iPhone ever made, with the iPhone 17 Air reportedly measuring just 5.5mm thick - nearly half the thickness of a standard iPhone.

Achieving such a slim profile will require Apple to sacrifice several features, some of which are significant.

First and foremost is the camera system. Although the iPhone 17 Air will still come with a premium 48MP main sensor, it will include only one camera. There will be no ultra-wide lens or telephoto option - a major step back even for non-Pro iPhones, which have traditionally offered at least a dual-lens setup.

For users who value versatile photography, other models in the iPhone 17 lineup may be a better choice.

In addition, the iPhone 17 Air is rumored to include only a single speaker. According to The Information, the phone is too thin to accommodate a second speaker on the bottom edge. Apple is said to be enhancing the earpiece speaker to help balance audio performance. Still, this is a setback for those seeking robust built-in sound.

Users who prioritize audio quality may find AirPods Pro a more suitable companion for the iPhone 17 Air, rather than relying on its limited speaker setup.

Another notable change: the iPhone 17 Air will be the first device to feature Apple’s in-house C1 modem. As a result, it will not support mmWave 5G in the U.S., unlike the iPhone 16 Plus. Some mobile bands currently supported by the iPhone 16 Plus may be missing on the Air model.

That said, real-world testing indicates this may not significantly impact connection quality for most users.

Perhaps the most controversial design compromise is the complete removal of the physical SIM card slot. While Apple has already phased out the SIM tray on U.S. iPhone models, it continues to offer it in other markets. But the ultra-thin form factor of the iPhone 17 Air could mean no physical SIM slot at all, globally.

According to The Information, “Apple engineers have yet to find a way to fit a physical SIM slot into such a thin device.”

This could affect sales, particularly in countries like China, where regulations mandate physical SIM support.

Still, the iPhone 17 Air isn’t without its advantages - or at least, many of its features remain unaffected by the ultra-slim build.

Battery life, for instance, might seem like a concern at first glance. However, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests that Apple is taking steps to ensure no compromises are made.

“Thinner phones typically require thinner batteries, which usually means shorter battery life. But Apple isn’t willing to make that trade-off. Instead, engineers have redesigned the display, processor, and software to optimize performance,” Gurman explained.

Furthermore, according to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 17 Air will use a high-density battery. This advanced technology is expected to improve battery life without increasing physical size.

The iPhone 17 Air is rumored to sport a 6.6-inch screen, so while it may not match the battery endurance of the iPhone Plus line, it should still offer respectable performance.

Display technology will also be a strong point. Despite its thinness, the device will feature a 6.6-inch OLED display with LTPO technology - the first time this tech appears on a non-Pro iPhone. This means users will get access to premium features like a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate and an always-on display.

On the wireless charging front, some feared the removal of MagSafe - as seen with the iPhone 16e - might continue with the Air model. However, recent prototype leaks confirm that MagSafe will still be included in the iPhone 17 Air.

As for pricing, despite its cutting-edge design, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to launch at under $1,000, on par with the iPhone 16 Plus, according to multiple sources.

Apple is expected to officially unveil the iPhone 17 Air alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max this September.

Hai Phong