When Will the Portless iPhone Arrive? Apple’s Wireless Design Evolution Through the iPhone 17 Air
When Will the Portless iPhone Arrive? Apple’s Wireless Design Evolution Through the iPhone 17 Air. Apple planned to release the iPhone 17 Air, an ultra-thin model in the iPhone 17 series, in fall 2025. Initially, it was designed to be the first iPhone without any charging port. However, this bold idea was abandoned. Apple decided to keep the USB-C port on the iPhone 17 Air.
Portless iPhone: What Changed?
Why did Apple abandon this revolutionary design?
The EU: The Biggest Obstacle to Removing Ports
Apple originally wanted to remove the USB-C port from the iPhone 17 Air, supporting only wireless charging. However, European Union (EU) regulations forced a change in strategy.
The EU now requires all smartphones to use USB-C. Since Apple had just transitioned from Lightning to USB-C, a portless iPhone could create regulatory issues.
In recent years, the EU has also scrutinized Apple’s business practices. Analysts believe that removing the charging port might be seen as an attempt to bypass the USB-C standard.
Challenges of the Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 Air
Even with the charging port, the iPhone 17 Air will be much thinner than current models. It measures just 5.5mm thick—about 2mm thinner than existing devices.
A thinner design creates technical challenges. A smaller device means a smaller battery, which could reduce battery life. Apple didn’t want to sacrifice battery performance. To improve efficiency, it redesigned the display, processor, and software.
The iPhone 17 Air will also feature the C1 chip, Apple’s first in-house 5G modem, first introduced in the iPhone 16e. This chip offers fast 5G speeds and low power consumption. However, it does not support mmWave technology. This is not a major issue, as mmWave adoption remains limited worldwide.
Apple’s Future and the Road to a Portless iPhone
Keeping the USB-C port in the iPhone 17 Air doesn’t mean Apple has given up on a portless iPhone. If the model is successful, Apple may expand the design to other models and attempt to remove the charging port in the future.
Apple has been moving toward a wireless future for years. It removed the headphone jack, promoted AirPods, and expanded MagSafe wireless charging.
With ongoing improvements in wireless charging and the growing popularity of MagSafe, a fully wireless iPhone seems inevitable. It’s only a matter of time.