According to technology experts, Apple's supply chain will face challenges in producing the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Slim.
The iPhone 17 Slim is expected to be part of a new iPhone launch in the fall of 2025. In preparation for that launch, Apple's supply chain is starting to take on the initial tasks needed to produce it. According to supply chain sources told DigiTimes, the iPhone 17 Slim or iPhone 17 Air has entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) production phase.
iPhone 17 Slim has an extremely thin design.
The NPI process is the first stage where Apple’s assembly partners will review Apple’s designs and determine how they can build what’s needed on the production line. Because of the large number of iPhones produced each year, this is a crucial time to perfect the actual manufacturing process.
The iPhone 17 Slim is starting a bit late compared to other products of the same generation. In late October, it was reported that a factory in India had started the NPI process for the iPhone 17, while the iPhone 17 Pro models were already being manufactured in China. Considering Apple's production schedule, the iPhone 17 Slim's NPI claim is quite reasonable.
iPhone 17 Slim - Ultra-thin design and advanced technology are a big challenge
The NPI process is often a puzzle for manufacturers to work on, and the iPhone 17 Slim may be more difficult than usual. The ultra-thin iPhone is expected to be just 6mm thick, leaving less room than usual for all the internal components. This has led to a number of design changes, including the need to remove the SIM tray entirely.
As a result, Apple has switched to an eSIM-only approach in the US and rolled it out to other countries. Additionally, the battery will be thinner, which could cause physical durability issues. The battery will also have a smaller capacity, significantly shortening battery life compared to other iPhone models.
iPhone 17 Slim concept photo.
The rear camera bump is also a factor that needs to be changed. According to rumors in December, the iPhone 17 Slim will use a horizontal bar design on the back to accommodate multiple cameras. This new camera design is questionable. This will affect the iPhone 17 Slim's ability to shoot space videos.
One analyst also believes that Apple could reduce the number of cameras to just a 48-megapixel rear camera and a 24-megapixel TrueDepth selfie camera for Face ID. With a high-resolution camera, the iPhone 17 Slim could still offer consumers optical zoom, using cropping tricks to create a fake effect for the second camera.
Finally, "Apple House" will use a 6.6-inch screen, 3-nanometer A19 chip and 8GB RAM for the super-thin iPhone 17 Slim.
