Apple, next year in 2025, is expected to introduce a brand-new iPhone, which could be called the iPhone 17 Air or iPhone 17 Slim.
Regardless of the marketing name Apple chooses, this device is expected to be the thinnest iPhone ever, measuring between 5mm-6mm thick.
If this does materialise, it would surpass the iPhone 6, which at 6.9mm remains the thinnest iPhone to date. However, achieving this ultra-slim design may come at the cost of a significant component: the physical SIM tray. Also Read: 'Chill Guy' dog meme sweeps social media: Here's what you need to know The Information reports that the iPhone 17 Air could be so thin that Apple might not have space to include a physical SIM tray.
While this wouldn't pose an issue in the United States—where Apple has already transitioned to eSIM-only iPhones—this could be a challenge in markets like India, other Asian countries, and even parts of Europe, where physical SIM slots are still considered essential.
Many users in these regions prefer the flexibility of swapping SIM cards.In India, dual SIM functionality is highly preferred, and while iPhones do offer this feature, one of the slots is a physical SIM, with the other requiring an eSIM.