Summary
If you accept the early speculations related to the iPhone 17, you will believe that Apple may be preparing to take a totally different path for the phone models that will be released the following year. According to this report, the Plus model, which is presently the iPhone 15 Plus, will be discontinued, and in its place, a whole new product that will be known as the iPhone 17 Slim will be introduced.
From my point of view, there is just one possible issue: I do not want a phone that is thinner; rather, I want one that is generally smaller.
There are rumors that the iPhone 17 Slim will be bigger than both the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro, which are two other phones that are purportedly going to be released in 2025. The length of the iPhone 17 Slim is said to be around 6.6 inches altogether. It has been reported by Jeff Pu, an analyst at Haitong International Securities, that there will be modifications made to the design, enhancements made to the camera that is located on the front of the device, and a reduction in the size of Dynamic Island.
What exactly is the problem with iPhones today?
One of the reasons I recently switched from using an iPhone 12 to an iPhone 14 Pro Max is because I find the latter to be superior to the former in many respects. Having said that, I do have a few difficulties with this model, the most significant of which is that it is a little bit too large, particularly when I placed one of the finest covers for the iPhone 14 Pro Max on it. I have a habit of keeping my phone in the pocket of my jeans, and the volume of the iPhone 14 Pro Max has begun to exceed the capacity of my pockets.
One thing I can say is that the iPhone 15 Pro Max is a little bit smaller than the iPhone X, but it is just a very little difference. This decrease is offset by the fact that the iPhone 15 is actually larger than its predecessor, measuring 5.81 inches in size. There is just 5.78 inches of space on the iPhone 14. Consequently, this indicates that the standard iPhones are gradually becoming larger, which adds to my fear of phones that are longer. There is a possibility that Apple is contemplating a more compact iPhone, but this would not fix the underlying issue.
For what reason is an iPhone Slim not the solution?
Due to the fact that a slimmer phone has a thinner screen, there are design difficulties that arise. The fact that larger phones are able to accommodate larger displays is one of the most significant advantages of these devices, which ultimately results in an enhanced user experience. This is something that I am aware of since I put eleven various applications through their paces on a Galaxy Z Fold 5 and an iPhone 14 Pro Max in order to determine which one was superior. As you would anticipate, the foldable phone with its larger screen proved to be the superior device in most cases.
However, foldable phones have the benefit of being foldable, which is a significant advantage. It is possible to fold the phone into a more transportable form, which helps to compensate for the larger size of the device, provided that it does not break. Considering that this is not a possibility for standard smartphones, it is necessary to explore alternative possibilities; nonetheless, reducing the size of a phone’s screen is not the answer.
The problem with making a phone slimmer is that you have to reduce the size of the screen on one axis while maintaining the length of the device throughout the process. The result is that using the phone is more difficult, particularly for those who have difficulties using their hands and are unable to use the touchscreen keyboard due to its reduction in thickness. Furthermore, it indicates that you have not truly resolved the issue, as the phone continues to be tough to transport when carrying.
Which alternatives are available?
There are a few different responses to the question of how to market a smaller phone to clients, as well as solutions to the problem presented below. Answering the question of why customers aren’t as interested in smaller phones is the first thing that has to be done. The primary issue is that the displays provide less space for multimedia content like movies and applications. The fact of the matter is that smartphones are multimedia devices, not simply phones; thus, it is essential to have the greatest possible experience by using them.
There is one answer, and that comes in the form of a foldable phone. Although the thickness of foldable smartphones was one of my previous criticisms, the reported advancements to Apple’s processor architecture might lead to the development of the smallest folding gadget that Apple has ever created. The alternative possibility, on the other hand, is to alter the features that a smaller iPhone provides or to bring back a design that has been neglected to the foreground.
I wouldn’t blame you if you’ve forgotten about the iPhone small; I understand your situation. After just two editions, Apple finally decided to cease making them since they did not enjoy a significant amount of popularity. It was especially frustrating because the tiny devices had a shorter battery life than the larger ones.
With the advancements that have been made to batteries and the general design modifications that have been made to CPUs, I believe that there is a space for smaller iPhones to come back. Apple succeeds in this area, despite the fact that it would need a significant amount of design expertise and the aptitude to make the most of the technology that is now available.
Can you see the iPhone 17 Slim?
The fact of the matter is that we do not have a great deal of information on the iPhone 17 Slim at this time, and as a result, we do not know whether or not it will be a significant redesign or if the name is just a tactic for marketing purposes. The problem of smartphone sizes, on the other hand, is only going to get more severe, particularly when the sizes of basic phones are continuing to expand.
Despite the fact that I hope that manufacturers of mobile devices will provide users with a greater variety of alternatives, I am aware that this is not likely to be the case. On the other hand, if I am that preoccupied with nostalgia, I guess I could always look at one of the feature phones that HMD is making based on the mobile phones that I used to use in the past.
