A recent report from Korea has shed light on the upcoming releases of slimmer high-end smartphones by Apple and Samsung this year.
Apple is set to replace the iPhone 16 Plus with the new iPhone 17 Air, addressing the Plus model’s historically lower sales figures. Despite the shift in design to a slimmer form factor, the iPhone 17 Air will reportedly be priced similarly to its predecessor, the iPhone 16 Plus, eliminating any premium for its reduced thickness.
The iPhone 17 Air is rumoured to have a thickness of 6.25 mm, which contradicts earlier reports suggesting an even slimmer profile. Meanwhile, Samsung is preparing to launch the Galaxy S25 Slim, with an approximate thickness of 6.5 mm, branded as “mid-6mm.”
Samsung plans to unveil the Galaxy S25 Slim at its upcoming Unpacked event later this month, though the device won’t be available until a few months later. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to debut alongside the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup in September.
Interestingly, Samsung reportedly expedited the development of the Galaxy S25 Slim in response to Apple’s iPhone 17 Air plans. The Galaxy S25 Slim is anticipated to be priced lower than the high-end Galaxy S25 Ultra, potentially positioning it between the Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Galaxy S25+ in terms of cost.
