Apple analyst Jeff Pu released a new note to investors this week with more details on what to expect from next year's iPhone 17 lineup.
Also interesting is the twist on what to expect from the so-called iPhone 17 Air design
iPhone 17 Rumors: Specs and Design
There's not much new in Pu's report on the iPhone 17 specs today. The investor note largely reiterates much of what he has said in the past, signaling that Apple's plans have not changed.
In terms of design, Pu again says that all iPhone 17 models will feature an aluminum construction that is more complex than the iPhone 16 models. The iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature a “significantly narrowed Dynamic Island,” while the other models will retain the current design.
The smaller Dynamic Island on the iPhone 17 Pro Max is made possible by “metalens” technology for the proximity sensor. This change to the “metalens” could significantly reduce the size of the Face ID sensor.
Pu also says that the A19 and A19 Pro chips will use a new N3P manufacturing process compared to the N3E process used for the A18 chips in the iPhone 16 models. This means we can expect improved performance and efficiency across the board thanks to the increased transistor density on the A19 chips.
Apple is not expected to move to TSMC’s next-generation 2nm process until 2026.
| iPhone 17 | iPhone 17 Slim | iPhone 17 Pro | iPhone 17 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launch | September 25 | September 25 | September 25 | 25 September |
| Display | 6.1″ | 6.6″ | 6.3″ | 6.9″ |
| Chip | A19 N3P | A19 N3P | A19 Pro, N3P | A19 Pro, N3P |
| DRAM | LPDD5 8 GB | LPDD5 8 GB | LPDD5 12 GB | LPDD5 12 GB |
| Front camera | 24 MP | 24 MP | 24 MP | 24 MP |
| Rear camera | 48MP Main, 12MP Ultra Wide | 48MP Main | 48MP Main, Telephoto, Ultra Wide | 48MP Main, Telephoto, Ultra Wide |
| Face ID | Structured Light | Structured Light | Structured Light | Structured Light, Metalens |
| Body | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum |
iPhone 17 Air design rumors
Last week, supply chain rumors suggested that Apple was running into technical hurdles in its plans to use a thinner battery design in the iPhone 17 Air. While that report seemed to suggest the iPhone 17 Air’s battery would be 6mm thick, today’s report from Pu says the iPhone 17 Air itself will be 6mm thick.
“We agree with recent talk of an ultra-thin 6mm iPhone 17 Slim design,” Pu says. The analyst goes on to say that he doesn’t expect the iPhone 17 Air to be a “mass production model” due to the technical compromises Apple will make to achieve this ultra-thin design.
The iPhone 6 currently holds the title of Apple’s thinnest iPhone at 6.9mm, while the iPhone 6 Plus measures 7.1mm. The 11-inch iPad Pro M4 is just 5.4mm thick, while the 13-inch iPad Pro is 5.1mm thick.
- iPhone 16: 7.80mm
- iPhone 16 Plus: 7.80mm
- iPhone 16 Pro: 8.25mm
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: 8.25mm
9to5Mac's Take
I'd take all of this with a grain of salt for now. The iPhone 17 announcement is still 10 months away, so Apple's plans can and will change many times before then. I doubt the iPhone 17 Air itself will be 6mm thick, but I'd love to be proven wrong.
Follow the odds: Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, and Mastodon.
My favorite iPhone accessories:
- USB-C to USB-C Cable with LED Display
- Belkin MagSafe 3-in-1 Charging Pad
- Satechi 165W Charging Station with 4 USB-C Ports
- Beats Pill Wireless Speaker
