Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 Air is set to break new ground in smartphone design with its ultra-slim profile, but leaked dummy models reveal an unexpected quirk in the USB-C port placement.
According to recent leaks shared by AppleTrack, the USB-C port on the iPhone 17 Air will not be centered on the bottom edge as seen in previous models. Instead, Apple has shifted the port closer to the rear of the device, likely due to internal space constraints in the remarkably thin 5.5mm chassis.
This design change appears to be one of several engineering compromises made to achieve the iPhone 17 Air's slim profile, which is notably thinner than the 8.25mm iPhone 16 Pro. The bottom speaker grilles have also been redesigned with just two holes on each side of the port, down from the usual five found on current models.
The space-saving measures extend beyond port placement. Reports indicate the iPhone 17 Air will feature a single rear camera and completely eliminate the physical SIM card slot in favor of eSIM technology worldwide.
Despite its ultra-thin design, the device is expected to maintain battery life comparable to existing iPhone models, thanks in part to Apple's new C1 modem chip. The efficient processor should help manage power consumption within the confined space.
The iPhone 17 Air is anticipated to launch this September alongside other iPhone 17 models and potentially new AirPods Pro. The 6.6-inch device represents one of Apple's most dramatic iPhone redesigns in recent years, though users may need to adjust to its asymmetrical port placement.