Rumor: iPhone 17 Pro Max will be thicker to make room for a bigger battery – 9to5Mac

The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max will reportedly be thicker than its predecessor, according to a new report posted to Weibo. This is just one of the many design changes Apple will reportedly make to the iPhone lineup this fall.

The rumor comes from the leaker Ice Universe, who has accurately shared details about unannounced Apple products in the past. The iPhone 17 Pro Max will reportedly measure 8.725mm thick, an increase from the iPhone 16 Pro Max at 8.25mm. It would be Apple’s thickest iPhone since the iPhone 4S.

According to Ice Universe, the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be thicker to accommodate a larger battery. The leaker didn’t provide any additional details on how much larger a battery the device will feature. As always, an increase in battery size doesn’t necessarily mean battery life will be any longer. Apple might need to increase the battery size to accommodate new power-hungry features.

The good news is that if you want an ultra-thin iPhone, you’ll have a new option this year: the iPhone 17 Air. This will be Apple’s thinnest iPhone ever, measuring an impressive 5.5mm thick. The iPhone 17 Air will have several compromises, such as just a single camera on the back, but Apple hopes the focus on form over function will be enough to win some shoppers over.

In a separate post on Weibo, Ice Universe also said that the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Air will be identical in form factor other than the thickness, and both have a 6.9-inch screen. However, a reliable source tells 9to5Mac that these numbers are inaccurate. The iPhone 17 Air will have a 6.55-inch screen, as previously rumored.

What are your plans for the iPhone 17 cycle this fall? Are you planning to upgrade? Let us know in the comments.

My favorite iPhone accessories:

• Meross Smart Garage Door Opener with HomeKit
• Anker Nano Power Bank with built-in USB-C cable
• Satechi 3-in-1 Foldable Charging Station
• Twelve South Plugbug: 4-port fast charger with Find My
• Backbone One Mobile Controller for iPhone

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