Oliver Haslam
Rumors continue to swirl that Apple will launch a new iPhone 17 Slim in 2025. Why does Apple think anyone wants it?
In a world where people want their devices to last for longer than ever on a single charge, shouldn't tech companies like Apple focus on bigger, better batteries rather than slimming phones down instead?
The rumors surrounding the iPhone 17 Slim have been around for a little while at this point but the consensus has settled on a couple of notable things. The most is obviously where the name comes from — the fact the iPhone 17 Slim will be thinner than other models on sale alongside it.
Surely by making the iPhone thinner Apple must also reduce the internal volume that can be filled with battery. Just look at the iPhone 13 mini compared with the iPhone 13 — Apple's own specs had the former running out of battery a couple of hours sooner than the latter.
And then there are thermal considerations. Apple's iPhone 15 Pro was infamous for getting too warm when pushed — how will a similar chip perform in something even thinner?
Another aspect is that the iPhone 17 Slim is expected to feature a smaller display than the high-end models, something that might fly in the case of a third rumor that this will be the most expensive option in the 2025 lineup. Will people really pay more for a thinner phone with a smaller display?
For those who want the biggest and the best, the iPhone 17 Pro Max would still have a bigger display and a faster chip, but it would presumably be slightly thicker. That begs the question of just who the iPhone 17 Slim will be for. Notably, the iPhone 17 Thin would replace the Plus iPhone which itself replaced the Mini, two devices that also struggled to find a market of their own.
I realize I'm ringing a premature death knell for the iPhone 17 Slim here, but stay with me here. If people don't want a smaller iPhone and they don't seem to have wanted to pay for a big screen but slower chip, what do they want?
I'd posit that all we really need to do to answer that question is look at what people perpetually complain about with every new iPhone release. In fact, they complain about it whenever any new phone is released regardless of the badge on the back. They complain about battery life.
Could the iPhone 17 Slim offer notably worse battery life based on the reasons I mentioned earlier? Is that a trade-off people are willing to make?
Realistically, nobody looks at an iPhone 16 and thinks that it should be thinner. They wish that it would run for longer on a single charge, no matter how fast USB-C or Qi2 chargers can power them back up again. But making thinner iPhones is the enemy of battery life, the two things just don't get along.
Apple Park and its many offices around the globe are full of undoubtedly talented designers and engineers. Battery life is surely a concern for many of them, and I've no doubt it's high up on the list of requirements for each new device — an even thinner iPhone, surely not so much.
So I'm here to say this. Apple, please, stop trying to make everything thinner than thin and consider even making them a fraction of a centimeter thicker. Add a couple of extra hours to how long my iPhone can run before I reach for the charger and I'll consider the upgrade worthwhile.
But slimming a phone that I already drop more than I should and can barely feel in my pocket? I think I'll probably just skip that one, thanks. Charging more for it just because there's less of it is just an insult to injury.
As for Samsung, we know it has a history of taking Apple's ideas and running with them if we're being kind, and copying them if we aren't. But I recommend that it sits this one out. I'm sure Samsung fans would, too.
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52 Comments
Quite surprised by this one-sided strong take. I've consistently seen complaints that iPhones are too thick and heavy, especially since the 14 Pro, and requests for smaller and lighter phones, like the equivalent of a iPad mini or a better SE. And many would sacrifice a bit of battery life for it. Definitely not the majority, but there is a market for it. Such a one-sided take seems out of touch especially from a professional tech writer.
“ If people don't want a smaller iPhone and they don't seem to have wanted to pay for a big screen but slower chip, what do they want?”
I want a folding iPhone w/o a camera bump. Not a thinner phone with a huge bump. Apple has made it clear their focus is on thinning things out. Who needed a thinner ipad?
Must be a slow news day when a lengthy article complains about Apple's "wrong-headedness" on the scantiest of rumors regarding the iPhone 17 "Slim". First of all, we don't know how much slimmer - some rumors, since that's what you're basing your entire article on - state that it'll barely be a millimeter thinner. We also don't know what "smaller display" means - it could be that it's merely smaller than the Max - but still larger than the Pro. Lastly, the fact that there are always people complaining about battery life doesn't mean much because it's just a vocal minority on tech forums that always squeals.. I bet the vast majority of iPhone users are perfectly fine with battery life. I have the 16 Max and just came back from a flight to Asia and another one to Spain. Never had a problem with battery life. But, then, like most folks, I just watch movies and browse the web while on the planes. But still - lasted fine.
Of course some people will want this. The question is how many? Anyone here remember when “people wanted” a cheaper iPhone and so app,EU came out with the 5c? They so,d millions, but not enough for Apple to continue making a polycarbonate back phone. So, if this phone is going to g to be real, it will be interesting to see the take up. There must be some reason Apple thinks this will sell well enough, assuming that’s really what they’re thinking.
Different people want different things. To adapt and repurpose Steve Jobs’ “cars vs. trucks” analogy, an electric Hummer might be the most capable car you can buy, from a certain perspective, but if you’re single and you live in the city you’d be better served by any number of other vehicles, even if they couldn’t otherwise compete on hauling capacity, passenger capacity, off-road ability, cup holders or even acceleration. I’ve been using iPhones for about 16 years, and never once had a real problem with battery life, although I did run low on battery a handful of times over the years when I forgot to charge—and this is coming from someone who used the 6.9mm iPhone 6 happily for quite a while. Like most people who can afford an iPhone, I never go more than a day without access to a power outlet. Over time, people’s priorities can change as certain features lose their novelty, and sometimes people don’t know what they want until they see it. I would love a thinner, lighter phone, and those are attributes that I would enjoy whenever I was using, holding it or just carrying it around. I’d get a new phone more often if it weren’t always a trade-off of better features for a bigger, heavier device. I’m sure Apple is always researching ways to make more powerful batteries and more efficient processors, and it’s not unreasonable to think that they might one day be able to make something as sleek as the iPhone 6 but with updated specs. They may have come to the conclusion that the current models are good enough in most respects, so improving the form factor would be an area where they can continue to innovate and differentiate themselves.