In 2025, Apple is expected to discontinue the iPhone “Plus” device in its iPhone 17 lineup in favor of a “Slim” iPhone – though it may not actually be called that when it debuts next fall. While the iPhone 16 series is still over two months away, rumors of an iPhone two generations away aren’t all that unusual, especially considering we heard rumors of larger displays on the iPhone 16 Pro models back in May 2023.
While we wait for this year’s iPhone 16 series, here’s a roundup of everything we’ve heard so far from reliable sources about Apple’s so-called iPhone 17 “Slim.”
iPhone 17 Slim: Rumors so far
Thinner design
According to The informationApple’s brand new iPhone 17 model next year will feature a “significantly thinner” design with an aluminum chassis, rather than a titanium enclosure like Apple’s Pro models. The news outlet also claims that the device will have a narrower Dynamic Island, possibly due to Apple’s adoption of a smaller “metal lens” for the Face ID system. Internally codenamed D23, the device’s redesign has been described as a large equivalent to the iPhone X.
Smaller view
The first details about the device’s display size came courtesy of Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu, who said it would be 6.6 inches. However, according to Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) analyst Ross Young, it will have a 6.55-inch display. For comparison, the iPhone 15 Plus has a 6.7-inch display. Apple is reportedly still testing different designs for the slimmer phone, so the screen size could still change between now and the device’s launch.
Moved cameras
The information claimed that the iPhone 17 will have “Slim” cameras in places we’ve never seen before on an iPhone. According to a report back in May, the rear cameras could be moved to the “top center” of the device. Some Android phones, like Google’s Pixel 8 Pro, have rear cameras in a top-center position, but Apple’s iPhone camera system has occupied the top-left corner since the 2007 model.
Anti-reflective coating
All iPhone 17 models will get an anti-glare display that’s more scratch-resistant than Apple’s Ceramic Shield on iPhone 15 models, according to Chinese Weibo leaker Instant Digital. The outer glass of the iPhone 17 series will reportedly have a “super-hard anti-reflective layer” that’s “more scratch-resistant.” It’s not clear whether Apple plans to use the Gorilla Glass armor that Samsung uses on its Galaxy S24 Ultra, but the description of Corning’s latest tech lines up with the rumor.
ProMotion technology
According to The ElecAll iPhone 17 models will feature OLED displays with low-power backplane technology, bringing ProMotion to Apple’s non-Pro iPhone models for the first time. ProMotion allows the display to refresh up to a 120Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling and video content when needed. ProMotion also allows the display to step down to a more power-efficient 1Hz refresh rate, which is why the iPhone 15 Pro displays have an always-on feature that shows the clock, widgets, notifications, and lock screen wallpaper even when the device is locked.
Improved selfie camera
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the entire iPhone 17 lineup will have a 24-megapixel front-facing camera with a six-element lens. The iPhone 14 and 15 have 12-megapixel front-facing cameras with five plastic lens elements, and this year’s iPhone 16 lineup is expected to feature the same hardware. The improved resolution on the iPhone 17 ensures that photos maintain their quality even when cropped and zoomed in, while the increased pixel count allows for finer details to be captured. The upgrade to a six-element lens should also slightly improve image quality.
Internal upgrades
Haitong analyst Jeff Pu claims that the iPhone 17 “Slim” will have 8GB of RAM, compared to 6GB of RAM on the iPhone 15 Plus. It’s worth noting that all upcoming iPhone 16 models are expected to come with 8GB of RAM – a hardware requirement from Apple Intelligence on the device. According to The informationthe device will also be equipped with Apple’s A19 chip.
Higher price
The information reported that the slimmer iPhone 17 could carry a higher price tag than the Pro Max model, which currently starts at $1,199, suggesting that the device would be the ew-highest model in the lineup, surpassing the iPhone 17 Pro Max. If that’s the case, then the “iPhone Slim” may end up being the “iPhone Ultra” that’s been rumored for years.