The iPhone 17 is generating a lot of buzz with new innovations and upgrades. Some design elements will remain the same, like the camera module and Dynamic Island. But the rumored iPhone 17 Air is getting all the attention as the star of the show. Here’s everything we know so far about the iPhone 17 and the game-changer, iPhone Air.
Dynamic Island Stays the Same
Unlike earlier rumors, the iPhone 17 models won’t have a smaller Dynamic Island. According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, it will be “essentially the same”. The latest news is bad for users who thought a smaller notch would bring Apple closer to its goal of an all-screen iPhone.
Dynamic Island, first introduced in 2022 with the iPhone 14 Pro, replaced the notch with a more compact and useful design. While it’s less obtrusive and has new features, Apple’s end game is to get rid of the cutout altogether. For now, the current design will stay.
Conflicting Reports on Dynamic Island
According to earlier analyst Jeff Pu, Apple was supposed to shrink the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 17 Pro lineup by using a new “metalens” technology in Face ID. The supposed benefit of this would be to have a cleaner front screen and more screen real estate but if they’re using the same tech as the iPhone 16, that won’t happen till future updates.
The Vision of an All-Screen iPhone
It’s with this long-term goal of what an iPhone could be-not having any notch or cutout-that the iPhone 17 doesn’t even get to achieve. Smaller Dynamic Island updates in the future models could be the stepping stone to getting there.
iPhone 17 Air: A Thin and Innovative Model
One of the most exciting things about the iPhone 17 lineup is the iPhone 17 Air. This new model is rumored to be thinner than any iPhone ever, potentially under 6mm thick. If true, that’s a big design win and puts the Air in direct competition with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge.
Apple iPhone Air will likely have Apple’s own 5G modem. It may not be a performance monster on day one but Apple has a history of improving its tech — think M-series chips. Eventually its custom modem will be a key differentiator for the company.
What’s Next for Apple’s iPhone Lineup?
The iPhone 17 lineup, especially the Air, promises new things while keeping some of the old flavors. In fact the unchanged Dynamic Island may disappoint some fans but the thinner model with new hardware may raise the bar for the iPhone as a whole.
