Apple has not yet announced the iPhone 17, let alone an Air version—if one even exists. But rumors are running wild, leaks are piling up, and Apple’s usual schedule hints at a launch event on September 9. While we all wait for something official, we managed to get our hands on something that might hint at—or at least help imagine—what the thinnest iPhone ever could look like.
So yes, this is a mockup. A dummy model. It contains no technology—no active display, no camera, no A18 chip—and it of course did not come from Apple. What it did come through is one of the case makers in China, with help from the “Appleists” group, based on technical drawings circulating in supply networks and the right forums. No one really “received” them—but anyone skilled enough can connect the dots.
The model in our hands is made of a combination of aluminum and glass, and serves only one purpose: to feel what it’s like to hold a 5.5 mm-thick device. If real, this would be the thinnest iPhone ever. We placed it next to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and the difference is immediately noticeable.
In any case, it feels pretty good in the hand. Relatively lightweight, with a large and impressive 6.9-inch screen covering almost the entire front. The hand feel is balanced, not toy-like as one might fear from such a thin device. Now we can only hope the battery—if and when—doesn’t pay the price for this extreme diet.
So what do we actually know?
Although this is a dummy model and not a final product, the rumors provide plenty of details about what’s expected—or at least what people are fairly confident is coming. According to reports, 2025 is set to be one of the most dramatic years for iPhone changes since the iPhone X—yes, that significant.
Instead of the four models we’re used to, Apple is expected to drop the underperforming Plus and replace it with the iPhone 17 Air—a new, extremely thin model, with a screen size between the Pro and Pro Max (around 6.6 inches), and a completely different design, including a centrally located rear camera array (instead of off to the side), a slightly asymmetrical USB-C connector, and only two speaker holes instead of five. Because why not.
What about the thickness? That depends on who you ask. Reports range from 5 to 6 mm, with our dummy model measuring exactly 5.5 mm—thinner than any iPhone to date. For comparison: The iPhone 6 was considered particularly thin at the time with 6.9 mm. Since then, all models have gradually thickened, mainly due to batteries, cameras, and Face ID sensors.
In terms of weight, it’s around 145 grams—somewhere between the iPhone SE 2 and the iPhone 13 mini. The expectation is that this design will bring not only a physical feeling of lightness but also an entirely new identity for the iPhone series: Less massive, more precise, maybe even a touch nostalgic.
Ultimately, thin is impressive—but Samsung tried this year with the 5.8 mm-thin Galaxy S25 Edge, and it, at least so far, hasn’t exactly captured the audience.