iPhone 17 Air: Apple Considered Portless Design - Report

New Details Emerge Regarding Apple’s Upcoming iPhone 17 Air

Following initial reports in January concerning Apple’s intention to introduce an “Air” variant to its iPhone series, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg is now providing further specifics about the forthcoming, more streamlined iPhone.

The iPhone 17 Air is projected to be released this autumn, according to Gurman. Similar to the MacBook Air, it will feature a reduced thickness compared to conventional models, integrating both premium and more accessible features.

Engineering Challenges and Battery Life

Developing a thinner phone with reduced battery dimensions, while simultaneously maintaining battery performance, reportedly required a significant undertaking by Apple’s engineering teams.

Achieving this slimmer profile presented substantial hurdles, demanding considerable innovation in battery technology and device design.

Consideration of a Portless Design

Gurman’s reporting indicates that Apple explored the possibility of creating the first iPhone entirely without ports.

The concept involved exclusively utilizing wireless charging for power and cloud-based synchronization for data transfer.

Regulatory Concerns and USB-C

Ultimately, Apple opted against pursuing a completely portless design, at least for the present time.

This decision was influenced, in part, by potential reactions from European regulatory bodies.

These bodies have mandated that smartphone manufacturers incorporate USB-C connectors into their devices.

Concerns regarding compliance with these regulations played a role in Apple’s choice to retain a physical connector.