Apple

iPhone 17 Air: Almost Portless, but EU Concerns Kept It Grounded

Apple considered launching the iPhone 17 Air as a completely wireless model but decided to include a USB-C port to avoid potential EU regulatory issues.

6 months ago

iPhone 17 Air: A Compromise Between Design and Regulation Apple had ambitious plans for the iPhone 17 Air, aiming to create a completely wireless model with no ports. However, concerns over EU regulations led the company to reconsider and include a USB-C port for charging.

Key Points:

Original Plan: The iPhone 17 Air was initially designed as the first port-free iPhone, relying solely on wireless charging.
Design Challenges: Apple tested a thinner model with a 6.9-inch screen but abandoned it due to fears of excessive bendability, similar to issues faced by the iPhone 6 Plus in 2014.
Final Design: The final version of the iPhone Air will feature a 6.6-inch screen, making it two millimeters thinner than current models, reducing its thickness by about 20%.
Battery Life: Despite the reduced size, Apple has optimized the battery design to ensure comparable battery life to other iPhone models.
Release Date: The iPhone 17 Air is expected to launch in fall 2025 as part of the iPhone 17 lineup.