According to Mark Gurman’s latest newsletter PowerOnApple is working to make the iPhone 17 line “significantly thinner,” and next in line for the slimming treatment will be the MacBook and Apple Watch.
Apple’s recent launch of the iPad Pro (currently $994 on Amazon) marked the company’s return to prioritizing thinness, but unlike many other products in its past, it did so this time without sacrificing battery life or performance. reliability without sacrificing battery life or performance. Unsurprisingly, Apple’s newfound success in efficiency and performance can largely be attributed to Apple silicon, which has made both the MacBook and iPad range more capable than ever.
Most fears related to possible downgrades have almost completely evaporated with the introduction of Apple Silicon. However, a thinner MacBook, iPhone, or other product will most likely result in lower battery capacity. Although the lower capacity can be offset by the inclusion of increasingly efficient SoCs, the reduction in the maximum possible battery life of the device will continue to be a concern for people who are always on the go.
Given Mark’s largely positive track record, it’s entirely conceivable that Apple is indeed planning to make its devices much thinner. However, with the iPhone 17 as well as a possible MacBook/Watch revision still more than a year away, it’s quite difficult to accurately gauge what benefits or burdens these future products will bring.
