According to tech analyst Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, Apple has been considering releasing the iPhone 17 Air without a charging port. In his recent newsletter, Gurman shared that while Apple ultimately chose not to make the iPhone 17 Air its first model without a charging port, the option is still something they might explore for future iPhones.
He mentioned that the iPhone 17 Air could hint at a future where Apple’s phones are thinner and might not include charging ports. Gurman wrote, “The iPhone 17 Air marks the beginning of a big change for Apple.” If this new iPhone is successful, Apple plans to make more iPhone models without charging ports in the future to achieve a slimmer design.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had predicted that the first iPhone without a charging port would come out as early as 2021, but that didn’t happen. Although Apple has transitioned from its old Lightning charging port to the more universal USB-C port in recent years, we’ll still have to wait longer for an iPhone that completely eliminates the charging port.
In his Power On newsletter, Gurman stated that the device might start at about $899 (Rs.78,200/) in the U.S., aligning it with the iPhone 16 Plus. This coincides with rumors that the Air model will take over the Plus spot in the iPhone lineup.
Despite its rumored ultra-thin design, Gurman indicated that the iPhone 17 Air will deliver battery life “comparable to current iPhones,” likely at least matching the basic iPhone 16 model, which would be impressive.
Gurman pointed out that Apple has improved hardware and software to enhance the power efficiency of the iPhone 17 Air. Three expected features that could contribute to extended battery life are a higher-density battery, Apple’s efficient C1 modem, and the absence of an Ultra Wide camera, allowing more space for a larger battery.
He also mentioned that the iPhone 17 Air will feature the Camera Control button first seen in the iPhone 16 models, marking its debut on this new device.
