Expert calls it a "compromise": Apple introduces ultra-thin iPhone Air

Apple claims to have achieved another major development: The new iPhone Air is the first of its kind and thinner than any other version of the smartphone. However, some experts are skeptical about whether the device has the potential to be a best-seller.

Apple is expanding its iPhone lineup with a thinner model. The iPhone Air is 5.6 millimeters thick, making it slimmer than the other models. It's the thinnest iPhone model yet, Apple executive John Ternus emphasized at the launch. At the same time, Apple promises the performance of a MacBook notebook and a particularly robust case.

The new iPhone 17 is also available as a standard model and as a more expensive Pro version with more features. The Pro model also comes in a bright orange color.

The slimmer design required Apple to strike a technical balance. There's only one camera lens. Thanks to software and the lens design, a 12-megapixel telephoto camera is also integrated. The chips were shrunk to maximize battery space. Nevertheless, Apple designed a new external battery, which is held to the back of the device by magnets.

Some market observers expressed skepticism about how popular such a model could be after initial details emerged in media reports. For example, Craig Moffett of the financial firm Moffett Nathanson pointed out that the design could result in shorter battery life: "I'm not sure people will be too keen on making that kind of compromise."

Speculation about an additional, thinner iPhone had been rife for some time. Samsung beat Apple to the market a few months later with the 5.8-millimeter-thick Galaxy Edge model.