In a new Medium post, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple will discontinue the Plus model of its smartphone when the iPhone 17 line-up debuts in 2025.
“The Plus model currently accounts for only about 5–10% of total new iPhone shipments,” he says. “It implies that the other three iPhone models (standard, Pro, and Pro Max) already adequately cover the high-end market segments, making the Plus model redundant.”
Kuo reiterated his prediction that Apple will introduce an “ultra-slim” iPhone next year. He says the new ultra-slim model isn’t positioned to replace the Plus. Instead, Apple is exploring new design trends beyond the existing iPhone lineup.
“The ultra-slim iPhone 17 will emphasize innovative form factor design rather than competing on hardware specifications (processor, camera, etc.),” Kuo says. He adds that these are the currently known specifications of the ultra-thin iPhone 17:
1. Screen size: Approximately 6.6 inches
2. Screen resolution: Approximately 2,740 x 1,260
3. Processor: A19 chip (with the higher-end iPhones using the A19 Pro)
4. Dynamic island area: Similar to current models
5. Metal frame: Adoption of a titanium-aluminum alloy metal frame, with a lower percentage of titanium than the current Pro and Pro Max metal frames (with other iPhone 17 models using aluminum metal frames)
6. 5G chip: Adoption of Apple’s in-house 5G chip
7. Camera: Single rear camera (wide camera)
