Apple is rumored to be working on a “significantly thinner” iPhone

Just as it slimmed down the latest iPad Pro, Apple is said to be looking at making the iPhone thinner. To be more specific, the company is working on a “significantly thinner” device that could arrive as part of the iPhone 17 lineup in place of a Plus model, according to The information.

This model has been described as an iPhone X-level leap forward in design language for the company, according to several sources. Apple has not yet locked down the design and is said to be looking at various options, including an aluminum chassis. An upgraded front-facing camera could be housed alongside the Face ID sensors in a smaller, pill-shaped notch, while the rear camera could be moved to the center of the phone (this could reduce the possibility of accidentally covering the lenses with fingers). The screen size is somewhere between that of the current base iPhone and the iPhone Pro Max – so between 6.12 and 6.69 inches.

If that’s of interest to you, it’s worth bearing in mind that the slimmed-down iPhone may actually be more expensive than the iPhone Pro Max, which starts at $1,200. But hey, at least you’ll have some time to save for it.

This slimmer model could be set to replace the Plus in the iPhone lineup. The report suggests that there will be an iPhone 16 Plus, but this could be the end of this format, which has not lived up to Apple’s sales expectations. This year’s iPhones are said to be more about AI advancements than any major physical design changes, although there may be a new touch-sensitive button on the side for improved camera control.

Engadget asked Apple for comment on the report. Meanwhile, there’s unfortunately no indication that the company is going back to smaller screen sizes. I still miss the iPhone 5 sometimes.

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