Apple has decided to revolutionize the smartphone landscape with its upcoming iPhone 17 Air. These iPhone models are redefining smartphone design with an ultra-thin profile, which marks a significant departure from the previous iPhone models. However, this impressive aesthetic doesn’t come smoothly. Instead, it has cost several traditional iPhone features, including a SIM-inserting mechanism and the inclusion of a speaker. The moment this news surfaced, it sparked discussion among tech enthusiasts and gadget enthusiasts.
The iPhone 17 Air is expected to measure between 5.5mm and 6mm, which is going to surpass the iconic iPhone 6, which was 6.9mm thin. To achieve this slim design, Apple has adopted a new strategy and removed the physical SIM card slot from the iPhone 17 Air. Therefore, this upcoming model will completely rely on eSIM technology.
Well, this news won’t be something shocking for U.S. users, as Apple has long since withdrawn the physical SIM slot in the iPhone devices in the U.S. Since the iPhone 14 was released, they have been accustomed to this feature of relying entirely on eSIM technology. However, this complete shift to eSIM marks a notable shift for the international market, where physical SIM cards used to be the prevalent one.
While this removal of the SIM card tray contributes to reducing the device's vulnerability to dust and moisture, it at the same time poses challenges for international travelers. Now, they have to ensure compatibility with eSIM services in various regions.
The next feature that iPhone 17 Air has reduced to maintain the slimmest design is the speaker. In the upcoming iPhone 17 Air, Apple has included a single speaker, which will be located in the earpiece. This marks a complete elimination of the stereo sound experience found in recent iPhone models.
This aligns with the device’s ultra-thin profile, but it will affect the audio quality for users who consume media without headphones. There's a group of users who love external audio devices, but this removal of stereo speakers will be a huge drawback for those who rely on built-in audio for activities such as watching videos or gaming.
The final change that the upcoming iPhone model will feature is a single 48-megapixel rear camera. This is a significant departure from the multi-lens setups of its predecessors. This new rear camera setup ensured the absence of ultra-wide and telephoto lenses in the upcoming iPhone.
Anyway, this limitation can at least be addressed through the inclusion of advanced sensors and computational photography in the iPhone 17 Air. These will allow users to capture high-quality images despite the reduced hardware.
The upcoming iPhone 17 Air highlights Apple's commitment to innovative design, even if that comes at the expense of some widely popular features. However, with technological advancement, it seems that users will easily adapt to these changes.