Apple is preparing for a major change in the design and functionality of its future iPhones.
The 17 Air seems to be the starting point. According to industry sources, the American company plans to expand the use of eSIM technology globally, with this device marking the beginning.
Until now, eSIM technology was only available on models in the United States, but it seems that Apple Involves and other markets.
An ultra-slim design
The iPhone 17 Air could become one of the thinnest devices ever created by Apple.
Current prototypes are only 5-6mm thick, much smaller than the iPhone 16, which measures 7.8mm. This significant size reduction may seem attractive, but it comes with a number of engineering challenges.
Arranging essential components, such as the battery and heat-dissipating materials, in such a thin frame is one of them.
Also, to save space, it looks like the phone will have a single speaker instead of two. The camera will also remain simplified, with a single lens located in a large, centrally positioned bump, instead of the usual two or three cameras on recent models.
Challenges related to 5G
The iPhone 17 Air will come with another important change: the integration of Apple’s in-house 5G modem.
While it promises better battery efficiency, there are some limitations compared to Qualcomm chips, especially in terms of speed and connectivity.
Also, the lack of support for mmWave 5G technology could affect performance in certain areas where this type of connection is available.
eSIM for international markets
An important change of the future phone will be the complete removal of the physical SIM slot, replaced by eSIM technology.
This will allow users to manage multiple phone numbers from the same device and benefit from greater security.
However, this move may not be well received in international markets, especially in China, where the user registration system still requires physical SIMs.
Global release
Even though the new model is already in the prototype phase and could reach the market in early 2025, there are many uncertainties regarding the global launch.
In addition to the regulatory challenges in China, Apple also faces a delicate issue in terms of widespread eSIM adoption.
It is not yet known which countries will be targeted.
Source: www.go4it.ro
