New images of the iPhone 17 Air have surfaced, showcasing Apple’s thinnest iPhone yet — and potentially hinting at the company’s long-rumoured foldable ambitions.
The thinnest iPhone ever?
Leaked dummy models of the iPhone 17 Air, shared by Sonny Dickson, show a device that’s strikingly thin, reportedly measuring just 5.5mm. If accurate, that would make it Apple’s slimmest iPhone to date, even thinner than the iPod Touch at its peak. The images confirm a flatter design, an edge-to-edge display, and a subtly refined camera module — suggesting that Apple’s design language is evolving yet again.
The emphasis on thinness follows a years-long trend of Apple shaving millimetres off its devices, sometimes at the expense of battery life and durability. But there may be more to this story than just aesthetics.
A foldable connection?
One of the persistent rumours surrounding Apple is that a foldable iPhone is coming in 2026. The biggest challenge for foldables? Thickness. While early foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 5 were bulky, recent advancements — seen in the HONOR Magic V3 and OPPO Find N5 — have significantly reduced their size. Could Apple be preparing consumers for a thinner, more compact foldable by making extreme thinness the new normal?
Apple has yet to comment on the leak, but if the iPhone 17 Air follows the trend of ever-slimmer devices, it could be part of a larger design shift aimed at making foldables feel more mainstream.
What else we know
Beyond its razor-thin frame, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to feature a new A19 chip, a ProMotion display with Always-On functionality, and improved battery efficiency despite its smaller form factor. The dummy models also hint at a refined MagSafe system, which could suggest Apple is further embracing portless designs.
With Apple’s September event still months away, more leaks are inevitable. But one thing seems clear: Apple is once again pushing the boundaries of design, whether for a sleeker iPhone — or something even bigger down the line.