The upcoming iPhone 17 Air is set to be Apple’s next major foray into smartphone innovation. Expected to be only 5.5 millimeters thick and powered by a high-density battery, it will feature a host of technological advancements when it launches later this year. However, Apple has even more ambitious plans for future versions of its devices.
As reported by Bloomberg, Apple’s vision includes developing a smartphone that completely eliminates physical ports. While they initially considered this for the iPhone 17 Air, they ultimately decided to postpone these plans for various reasons.
According to the report, “An even bigger idea was to make the Air device Apple’s first completely port-free iPhone, one that omits that charging inlet as well as a physical SIM tray. This would eliminate the USB-C connector entirely, pushing for a shift to all-wireless capabilities for charging and cloud-based data management.”
One primary factor in shelving the port-less concept for the iPhone 17 Air relates to regulatory challenges, particularly within the European Union. Apple was the last major smartphone manufacturer to retain a proprietary charging port before switching to USB-C with the iPhone 15 series.
The absence of a physical port would mean the iPhone 17 Air would depend entirely on the MagSafe wireless charging system. Additionally, users would have to rely heavily on iCloud for data storage, as there would be no option for direct cable transfers or extractions.
This shift could present a challenge for average consumers, especially in terms of device repairability. However, Apple seems committed to this idea, and if the iPhone 17 Air achieves commercial success, they may further investigate creating entirely port-free smartphones.
Apple Won’t Be the Pioneer
Apple won’t be the first to explore this radical design. In 2019, the Chinese company Vivo unveiled its Apex concept, a smartphone sans USB ports, SIM trays, buttons, or speakers, with the entire display functioning as a fingerprint sensor.
That same year, another Chinese brand, Meizu, introduced the Zero concept, a premium phone designed without a charging port or headphone jack. Although the company attempted a crowdfunding campaign for it, they did not reach their funding goals.
Meizu later stated that the Zero was not intended for mass production. However, 2025 now seems poised for a resurgence of ultra-minimalist smartphone designs, with companies like Samsung, Honor, and Oppo reportedly developing their versions of extremely slim devices.
At MWC 2025, Tecno also impressed audiences with a prototype called the Spark Slim smartphone. Meanwhile, Xiaomi is rumored to be in the works on a device devoid of any physical buttons, though the company has yet to confirm such innovations.
