There’s a solid reason to reconsider purchasing the iPhone 17 Air right now and perhaps wait a few years. It might sound surprising, but the next iPhone 17 series launch is just around the corner, only two and a half months away. The buzz is all about the new ultra-slim model, rumored to be the iPhone 17 Air.
This version is expected to feature the A19 application processor (AP) instead of the A19 Pro AP, and it will likely come with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM-just enough to support Apple Intelligence.
The iPhone 17 Air could potentially be as thin as 5.5mm, making it the thinnest iPhone to date, surpassing even the iPhone 6 at 6.9mm. It would even be thinner than the current M4-powered iPad Air, with its 11-inch and 13-inch models being 6.1mm thick. The iPhone 17 Air would also rival the M4-powered 11-inch iPad Pro, which is 5.3mm thick.
With such a slim profile, it’s possible the iPhone 17 Air could fall short in the battery department, as there may not be enough room for a large battery. Potential buyers need to consider the likelihood that the iPhone 17 Air might struggle with battery life. A recent report from Korea suggests that those looking to buy the iPhone 17 Air this year should wait until the iPhone 19 Air in 2027.
The report indicates that Apple is considering integrating a new LTPO thin-film transistor (TFT) OLED display into the iPhone 19 series in 2027. This could help reduce the display’s power consumption, but Apple hasn’t made the final decision yet. They plan to announce this in the third quarter of this year, with many analysts predicting the LTPO technology will debut on the iPhone 19 Air.
As we mentioned, the iPhone 17 Air’s slim design will require Apple to innovate in battery technology. After all, what’s the point of having a sleek, attractive phone if it needs to be constantly charged? The new LTPO technology could improve battery life significantly, but it likely won’t be available until 2027. So, you might want to wait until Apple announces more about this during the third quarter of this year.
If Apple opts for the LTPO tech on the iPhone 19 Air, it might be worth holding off on purchasing the iPhone 17 Air for now. Not only will the iPhone 19 Air offer better battery life, but you’ll also have a few years to evaluate whether the ultra-thin design of the iPhone Air is what you really want and need.
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