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Apple iPhone 17 Air model has triggered mixed opinions about this slim form factor for phones and do we really need them in the market.
Slim phones mean you get compact devices but at what cost? (Photo: Apple Insider)
The slim smartphone era could soon make a comeback, and going by rumours, we could see giants like Samsung and Apple taking the charge. The foldable segment is also seeing changes, as brands look to make the devices thinner but do we really need smartphones to get thinner than what they already are?
Well, you could say slim phones will have takers, especially for those who like their phone for the aesthetics rather than practical features. For instance, when you look at sleek laptops, you end up compromising with ports and forcing you to buy an external hub to use basic stuff like USB drive or even the Ethernet cable.
Slim Might Not Be Good
With smartphones, the changes in design and dimensions could spell issues for the brand to integrate a powerful camera or even pack a large size battery. The size difference is obviously going to see some cut backs and reports around the Galaxy S25 Slim or the iPhone 17 Air/Slim more or less suggest changes in this direction.
Like we said, foldables going slim, we would appreciate that, as the form factor becomes easier to use. But for regular phones, slim might mean you see the battery size come down, this at a time when the battery tech has finally made it possible to pack a bigger unit without making the phones bulky as it used to before.
And let’s say, Apple replaces the 17 Plus with the iPhone 17 Air and prices it higher, would you really buy a more expensive phone which has less cameras and a smaller battery? You could see the same happen with Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Slim which is reportedly going to sit between the S25 Plus and S25 Ultra models.
You can understand Apple and Samsung’s possible interest in this device, mostly to freshen up its lineup. Apple replaced the Mini with the Plus a few years ago and these two brands could do it again.
Adding the Air and making it costlier is a win-win for the company if it manages to sell a decent number of units that gives it a higher device revenue. Either way, we are eager to see how and why the Slim phones come through and hopefully brands have a logical reason to bring them to the market.
