iPhone 17 Air Model Could Launch Without A SIM Slot: Will That Work In India? – News18

Last Updated:November 27, 2024, 08:30 IST

iPhone 17 Air could be Apple’s thinnest model ever but the company might have to make some sacrifices to make it happen.

Apple is planning for its slimmest iPhone model next year which could be called the iPhone 17 Slim or Air. Reports say the model could be as thin as 5mm which makes it really slim and possibly lightweight. But the sleek design is going to come with a few compromises, which could become a deal breaker in some regions.

iPhone 17 Air Changes: Why It Matters

The new update coming this week via The Information suggests the iPhone 17 Air could ditch the SIM slot altogether which means you will need an eSIM to use the device. It says the company’s engineers are finding it hard to fit the physical slot in a thin frame which was going to be a challenge. Apple has launched its eSIM variant of the iPhones earlier that were limited to the US market. But bringing a completely new model with just the eSIM could be an issue in countries like India and China, where having one SIM slot is part of the rules.

If Apple does manage to make the iPhone 17 Air at 5mm thickness, you have to give it to the company for the persistence in making the design happen.

However, that big change is going to come at the cost of the SIM slot, and mostly likely fewer number of camera lenses at the back. China is one of the biggest markets for Apple and most of its products have a keen focus for the region. Bringing an eSIM-only iPhone 17 Air would go against its product strategy.

It has been a while since we saw a premium iPhone with a single camera module and the Air version could offer us that sight once again. But these developments do hint that Apple might have to revisit its launch plans for the iPhone 17 Air and maybe take more time to figure out a way to make a slim iPhone and still have the basic features.