The latest report on the iPhone 17 Air suggests that the expected super-thin model could be as thin as 6mm, making it the thinnest iPhone ever made.
While this will be a tough sell and we'll have to wait until we see supporting evidence, it seems like we're getting more clarity on the market Apple is targeting with its device – …
Ironically, what could be Apple's most expensive model next year may share many of the same appeal as the cheapest model in the lineup.
iPhone SE
The first iPhone SE occupied an interesting position in the iPhone lineup. Apple focused on price, providing an affordable stepping stone into the iPhone world.
But some of those who bought it weren’t drawn to the price, but rather to the compact size and classic design. In fact, I actually “upgraded” from an iPhone 6S to the SE for those two reasons.
The SE also appealed to those who want an iPhone because they want to be part of the Apple ecosystem, but value simplicity over power. Specifically, those who aren’t as focused on camera capabilities.
Yes, they want to be able to take photos, but they want a point-and-shoot experience. They don’t want to pick a lens, decide whether to do macro or not, and so on. They just want to be able to press a button and take a photo.
Next year’s iPhone SE is expected to be a significant upgrade. It will finally ditch the Home button in favor of the all-screen design of other iPhones. It will switch from Lightning to USB-C. It will support Apple Intelligence.
But for all of these upgrades, we still expect it to have a single camera.
iPhone 17 Air
The iPhone 17 Air could be the most expensive model in the lineup, priced even higher than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
But despite that, it’s expected to have one thing in common with the cheapest iPhone: just one camera.
It seems clear that Apple is heavily targeting the “style over substance” market with the upcoming model. It’s for those who want the style and prestige of owning the sleeker iPhone on the market, and are willing to pay a premium for it.
In my opinion, trading a little extra thinness for camera capabilities is a pretty bad deal. The photography features are the main reason I typically upgrade each year.
But I think the iPhone 17 Air’s target audience might actually find the single camera a plus. First, they trade the visual clutter of that massive triple-lens camera module for a much more minimalist single lens (perhaps also centered instead of offset). Second, they get a simpler user experience. No faffing around, just point and shoot.
Apple’s cheapest and most expensive iPhone models next year may well appeal to some of the same people for the same reasons.
Render: Michael Bauer/9to5Mac
