Apple's iPhone lineup could get a major refresh this year: Thinnest iPhone ever, revamp SE model, and more expected

Apple is planning to introduce its thinnest iPhone ever as part of a significant refresh to its smartphone lineup in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in his Power On newsletter. The new model, potentially called the iPhone 17 Air, will be approximately 2 millimeters thinner than current iPhones and showcase Apple's first in-house modem chip.
The Air initiative draws inspiration from the company's successful MacBook Air and iPad Air products, Gurman reports. While the device may not top sales charts, it's expected to serve as a testing ground for future technologies, including potential foldable device developments.
The company's 2025 iPhone strategy also includes a major update to its budget-friendly iPhone SE. The new SE model will finally abandon the home button in favor of Face ID and a modern design, reports Gurman. It will also support Apple Intelligence features, though this upgrade may result in a price increase from the current $429 starting point.
Both the iPhone Air and SE will utilize Apple's first proprietary modem chip, codenamed Sinope, marking a significant shift away from third-party components. According to Gurman, this transition will extend to Pro iPhone models in the following year.
The refresh will also include updated designs for the iPhone 17, Pro, and Pro Max models. On the software front, iOS 19 is expected to debut in about six months, with Apple continuing its recent pattern of staggering feature releases across multiple updates rather than concentrating them in the initial release.
While the iPhone Air represents a bold new direction, Gurman notes it's designed to avoid the fate of previous experimental models like the Plus and mini variants, which saw limited success in the market.