A Rendering of What the iPhone 17 Slim Could Look Like
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Rumors continue to circulate that Apple will release a new iPhone 17 Slim in 2025. Why does Apple think anyone would want one?
In a world where people want their devices to last longer than ever on a single charge, shouldn’t tech companies like Apple be focusing on bigger, better batteries rather than making phones thinner?
The iPhone 17 Slim has been rumored for a while now, but the consensus has settled on a few notable things. The biggest one, obviously, is where the name comes from — the fact that the iPhone 17 Slim will be thinner than the other models sold alongside it.
Of course, by making an iPhone thinner, Apple also has to reduce the internal volume that can be filled with battery. Just look at the iPhone 13 mini and compare it to the iPhone 13 — by Apple’s own specs, the former ran out of battery a couple of hours sooner than the latter.
And then there are thermal considerations. Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro was notorious for getting too hot when pressed — how would a similar chip work in something even thinner?
Another aspect is that the iPhone 17 Slim is expected to have a smaller display than the high-end models, which could play into the third rumor that it will be the most expensive option in the 2025 lineup. Will people really pay more for a thinner phone with a smaller display?
For those who want the biggest and best, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will still have a larger display and a faster chip, but it will supposedly be a bit thicker. This begs the question of who the iPhone 17 Slim will be aimed at. Notably, the iPhone 17 Thin will replace the iPhone Plus, which in turn replaced the Mini, two devices that also had a hard time finding their own market.
I realize I’m ringing the death knell for the iPhone 17 Slim prematurely, but stay with me here. If people don't want a smaller iPhone and don't seem to want to pay for a bigger screen but a slower chip, what do they want?
I’d guess all we really need to do to answer that question is look at what people consistently complain about with every new iPhone release. In fact, they complain about it every time any new phone comes out, regardless of the badge on the back. They complain about battery life.
Could the iPhone 17 Slim offer noticeably worse battery life, based on the reasons I mentioned earlier? Is that a trade-off people are willing to make?
Realistically, no one looks at the iPhone 16 and thinks it needs to be thinner. They want it to last longer on a single charge, regardless of how quickly USB-C or Qi2 chargers can recharge them. But making thinner iPhones is the enemy of battery life; the two simply don’t go together.
Apple Park and its many offices around the world are filled with undoubtedly talented designers and engineers. Battery life is certainly a concern for many of them, and I have no doubt it’s one of the first demands for every new device – an even thinner iPhone, certainly not a lot.
So I’m here to say it. Apple, please stop trying to make everything thinner than thin and at least consider making them a fraction of a centimeter thicker. Add a couple extra hours to how long my iPhone can last before I have to reach for the charger and I’ll find the upgrade worth it.
But downsizing a phone that I already drop more often than I should and that barely feels like it’s in my pocket? I think I’ll probably just skip that one, thanks. Charging it more just because it’s smaller is just adding insult to injury.
As for Samsung, we know it has a history of taking Apple’s ideas and running with them if we’re kind, and copying them if we’re not. But I recommend that she waits it out. I'm sure Samsung fans will too.
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