The mobile phone market has already embarked on the first wave of upgrades for the year, following the Spring Festival. Samsung's Galaxy S25 series, which debuted first, and Xiaomi's newly released Mi 15 Ultra have garnered considerable attention. Naturally, Apple is not far behind. Recently, whispers about the groundbreaking iPhone 17 series have begun to surface. According to the latest scoop, a reliable source has disclosed further design details of the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Recently, the size specifications of the iPhone 17 Air and iPhone 17 Pro Max have been revealed.

The leaked specifications indicate that the iPhone 17 Air closely resembles the iPhone 17 Pro Max in appearance and feel, with the primary difference being its slimmer and lighter design. Both phones share the same length, width, screen size, and bezel thickness as the iPhone 16 Pro Max, meaning users should not anticipate any improvements in these aspects. The only discernible difference lies in thickness: the iPhone 17 Pro Max measures 8.725mm, whereas the iPhone 17 Air boasts an astonishing 5.5mm thickness.

However, achieving this ultra-thin design required certain compromises. According to leaks, the iPhone 17 Air has undergone some essential configuration adjustments. Firstly, the bottom speaker has been omitted, leaving only the speaker at the top earpiece position, with the bottom opening serving as a microphone. This change may affect audio output, but Apple may mitigate this through software optimization.

Secondly, the iPhone 17 Air has also forgone the ultra-wide-angle camera, featuring only a single 48MP main camera at the rear, supporting 2x optical zoom. This decision might disappoint camera enthusiasts, but Apple may believe that the ultra-thin design outweighs the benefits of multiple cameras.

Notably, the iPhone 17 Air's standout feature is its svelte 5.5mm thickness, making it the thinnest model in Apple's history. Due to its ultra-thin design, the iPhone 17 Air cannot accommodate a SIM card slot and will instead support eSIM.

eSIM is an embedded SIM card technology integrated directly into the device's motherboard, enabling network connectivity through remote configuration file downloads, thereby conserving internal space. It is currently unclear which solution will be adopted in China. If physical SIM cards are also phased out, there will be a need to promote eSIM adoption; otherwise, Apple will need to produce a special version with a physical SIM card for the domestic market.

However, the adoption of eSIM in the Chinese version is not entirely improbable. Last October, the iPad mini 7 supported domestic eSIM in collaboration with China Unicom.

Although the implementation of eSIM in domestic mobile phones has been sluggish, it has already been widely applied to products like watches. The only hurdle is whether operators are willing to embrace this technology.

Previously, Li Nan stated that if the Chinese version of the iPhone 17 Air resolves the eSIM issue, we should thank Apple, as this marks one of the significant changes Apple has introduced to the mobile phone industry.

It's worth mentioning that as a new model, the iPhone 17 Air will replace the Plus and will be equipped with the in-house modem chip C1. This year's iPhone 17 series will be streamlined to four models: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

In terms of core configuration, the iPhone 17 Pro will boast 12GB of RAM and be powered by the A19 Pro chip, making it Apple's most powerful model to date. Currently, the iPhone 16 series models all come standard with 8GB of RAM. The iPhone 17 Pro's upgrade to 12GB of RAM is primarily driven by Apple's aim to deploy more AI functionalities, which require sufficient RAM to store entire models and handle system performance overhead.

Furthermore, Mingmei Infinite would like to mention that according to the latest supply chain news, Apple's iPhone 17 series will follow Android flagship phones by adopting silicon-carbon anode batteries, with capacities increased to 5000mAh or above. However, due to internal space constraints, it is anticipated that only the iPhone 17 Pro Max will enjoy a battery capacity exceeding 5000mAh.

Compared to its predecessor, the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which has a 4685mAh battery, this improvement is significant, setting a new record for Apple's longest battery life. Silicon-carbon composite anode materials significantly increase battery energy density, enabling them to store more power in the same volume or weight, while also enhancing thermal stability and structural integrity compared to pure silicon anodes.

Moreover, the iPhone 17 series will feature an innovative heat dissipation design. Apple will equip it with VC (Vapor Chamber) cooling, which has a specially designed internal structure that can form a cycle between liquid and gas, achieving rapid heat conduction. This not only enhances processor heat dissipation efficiency but also aids in battery cooling, preventing performance limitations during intense activities like gaming.

Additionally, the latest leaks reveal that the iPhone 17 series (including the base model) will be equipped with Samsung's M14 OLED panels, and the entire lineup is expected to support 120Hz high refresh rates. The new phone's design is said to have three schemes: the standard version continuing the classic look, the Air featuring a long strip design, and the Pro adopting a horizontal large matrix layout.

What's even more striking is the material and color scheme. The Pro version is rumored to sport an integrated aluminum alloy body, with the rear cover featuring a dual-color design of half aluminum and half glass, enhancing both aesthetics and heat dissipation. Furthermore, the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 17 Pro Max may be reduced in size, resulting in a higher screen-to-body ratio and an impressive visual effect.

The cameras on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max have also undergone significant upgrades. Both phones will feature a triple-camera setup at the rear, with slight differences in specifications. The main and ultra-wide-angle cameras are both 48MP, while the iPhone 17 Pro's telephoto lens is 12MP and the iPhone 17 Pro Max's is upgraded to 48MP, offering improved clarity for digital zoom, albeit not reaching the 100x zoom of some Android phones.

The front camera will also witness an upgrade. After years of stagnation, Apple will introduce a 24MP front camera in the iPhone 17 series, a substantial improvement from the 12MP front camera introduced with the iPhone 11.

Regarding pricing, it's likely to follow Apple's usual pattern. The iPhone 17 series is expected to be released in September 2025. Rumors suggest that the iPhone 17 may start at 5999 yuan, with the Pro series beginning at 7999 yuan and the Pro Max potentially costing 9999 yuan. However, these are mere rumors, and specific prices will be announced officially by Apple.

In summary, the iPhone 17's upgrades are substantial, particularly in design, screen, chip, and camera system. If Apple can turn these leaks into reality, the iPhone 17 is undoubtedly worth anticipating. The final word, however, will be at Apple's event. Let's wait and see!

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