iPhone 17 Series Mockups: Unbox Therapy Shows Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 Air
Lewis Hilsenteger at the Unbox Therapy channel was able to get his hands on some really interesting stuff – mockups of Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 series. And trust me, one of the models, the so-called ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, completely stole the show.
Why These Mockups Matter
Now, these aren't just random 3D prints. These mockups are supposedly taken from technical diagrams that phone case and accessory manufacturers work with. They need to have an early start planning the new phone releases, so their dimensions are usually spot on. That is to say, what we see in Lewis's video is likely to be darn near the actual final measurements of the actual phones.
That Incredible Thinness
Lewis was absolutely shocked at how wonderfully slim this supposedly iPhone 17 Air is to grip in your hand. It feels like it's going to be so, so thin. He even went so far as to take a measurement.
When he measured the iPhone 17 Air mockup, he got a measurement of a mere 5.65 millimeters. To put this into perspective, the mockup for the larger iPhone 17 Pro Max was 8.75 millimeters thick. That's a big difference and suggests the 17 Air could be one of the thinnest iPhones ever to leave the Apple factory.
Thin Design, Big Question Mark
While that thinness is certainly remarkable from a design standpoint, it also raises a big question. Lewis raised questions about how tough a phone that thin would really be. Remember the 'Bendgate' debacle with the iPhone 6 Plus all those years ago. That phone was infamous for bending, sometimes merely from being pocketed in a back pocket. You have to wonder if Apple can make the 17 Air as thin and strong as possible without suffering the same fate this time around.
Looking Ahead
So when should we finally see the real thing. The whole iPhone 17 series is typically launched by Apple in September. Now, prior to that, look out for early June. That is roughly when Apple has its WWDC convention, where they'll most likely announce major OS updates. Not necessarily about the hardware itself, but those OS updates typically provide us hints at features going to future iPhones.
The prospect of an ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air is certainly exciting. But the real litmus test will be whether Apple can pack that thin form factor without sacrificing sturdiness. Only time will tell.
