A new report from Ryan Christoffel at 9to5Mac suggests that Apple is preparing for an ultra-thin iPhone model, potentially rebranding the iPhone 17 Pro Max as the iPhone 17 Ultra. The rumors point to several key changes in the upcoming iPhone lineup.
According to Ice Universe, the next iPhone 17 Pro Max will have a thickness of 8.725mm, almost half a millimeter thicker than its predecessor, the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This could indicate room for a bigger battery, which would be welcomed news.
The same leak reveals that the iPhone 17 Air will measure the same as the iPhone 17 Pro Max in every direction apart from thickness, with a screen size of around 6.9 inches. However, this might come at the cost of reduced mmWave speeds due to its thinner design.
Other reports have suggested that the iPhone 17 Air could use the Apple C1 modem found in the iPhone 16e, which is not capable of mmWave speeds. This has raised questions about whether future slim iPhones will need to sacrifice mmWave technology as well.
In contrast, the iPhone 17 Pro Max may feature a narrower Dynamic Island and potentially a vapor cooling system. These features have led Christoffel to speculate that an Ultra model could be in the works.
The new report also suggests that Apple is preparing for a wider range of iPhone models, with four distinct devices: the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and possibly an iPhone 17 Ultra. This would represent a significant change from the current lineup, which has seen two sizes for each model.
While some speculate that this could be Apple’s response to recent sales slumps, others question whether such a drastic shift is necessary. The company has streamlined its available choices in recent weeks, and it remains to be seen whether an Ultra model will materialize.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidphelan/2025/03/11/apple-iphone-17-pro-max-design-new-leak-hints-at-major-upgrade