iPhone 17 Slim reportedly getting a single rear camera

Apple has yet to announce the arrival of the iPhone 16 series, but before that, rumors about next year’s iPhone family have been swirling around the web. The alleged iPhone 17 series is said to feature a new ‘Slim’ variant instead of the Plus version. Recently, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shed more light on the specs and design, suggesting that Apple could focus on maintaining a thin profile by incorporating a single camera on the back. The iPhone 17 Slim is also expected to be powered by a low-end A19 chip.

iPhone 17 Slim specs (expected)

Renowned supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared his expectations for the iPhone 17 Slim in a Medium post. He suggests that the ultra-slim iPhone 17 model will emphasize a sleek design rather than competing on hardware specs. Kuo says it will have just a single wide-angle camera on the back.

The single-lens iPhone 17 Slim would be an unusual move from Apple, as the tech giant traditionally offers dual cameras on its standard and Plus models, and three on Pro variants. Details surrounding the iPhone 17 Slim’s camera capabilities are currently unknown, though other models in the iPhone 17 series are expected to feature a 48-megapixel main camera.

Further, Kuo says that the iPhone 17 Slim will feature a 6.6-inch display with a resolution of 1,260×2,740 pixels and a dynamic island. It is said to have an A19 chip under the hood, along with Apple’s own 5G chip. The high-end iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are said to come with A19 Pro chips.

Apple is expected to use a Titanium aluminum alloy midframe for the iPhone 17 Slim. The Titanium content could be lower than the current Pro and Pro Max midframes. Other iPhone 17 models are said to use an aluminum midframe.

Why does Apple want to replace the iPhone 17 Plus?

Kuo’s post confirms rumors about the company’s plan to discontinue the iPhone 17 Plus. Due to low sales, Apple is likely to discontinue the Plus model from the iPhone 17 lineup in favor of adding the new iPhone 17 Slim variant. “The new ultra-slim model is not positioned to replace the Plus. Instead, Apple is exploring new design trends that go beyond the existing iPhone lineup,” Kuo said.

He notes that the Plus model only accounts for 5 to 10 percent of all iPhones shipped, suggesting that the Plus is an obsolete model.