Apple’s forthcoming iPhone 17 Air may not achieve the previously speculated slimness.

Reports indicate that the company has encountered obstacles in developing a high-density battery essential for maintaining a sleek design.

The production of the advanced battery has proven costly, with a notable scarcity of defect-free units. Consequently, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to exceed 7mm in thickness, rendering it less slender than the iPhone 6, which measured 6.9mm.

Despite the increased thickness, the iPhone 17 Air is projected to offer a 6.6-inch OLED ProMotion display with a 120Hz refresh rate and enhanced camera capabilities. These features aim to maintain the device’s competitiveness in the market.

The challenges faced by Apple mirror those of Samsung, which has also struggled to achieve a thinner design for its Galaxy S25 Slim due to similar battery development issues.

Both companies have had to make technical compromises, leading to devices that are not as thin as initially planned.

Analysts suggest that Apple may need to delay the iPhone 17 Air’s release until new battery technologies become available, enabling the company to meet its original design objectives. This approach could ensure that the device offers a significant improvement over current models.