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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Apple’s June 2024 thin-device report was partly right, but the three products have followed very different paths. Apple has since released iPhone Air, which it calls the thinnest iPhone ever. The 2026 MacBook Pro is an M5-family performance update rather than a confirmed thinness redesign, while a slimmer OLED MacBook Pro remains a rumor. Apple Watch models have changed less decisively, and a major thinner-case redesign is still unconfirmed as of August 18, 2026.
What Apple was reported to be developing in June 2024
Mark Gurman’s reporting, summarized by MacRumors and 9to5Mac, said Apple was pursuing significantly thinner versions of the iPhone, MacBook Pro and Apple Watch. The 2024 iPad Pro was presented as evidence that Apple had made thinness a broader design priority.
The report associated the slimmer iPhone with the then-future iPhone 17 generation. It also mentioned a thinner MacBook Pro and a possible anniversary-era Apple Watch redesign, sometimes called “Apple Watch X.” Separately, reports attributed to Ming-Chi Kuo discussed a larger display and thinner Apple Watch.
Those reports did not establish final dimensions, battery capacities, prices, product names, launch dates for every device or a common release schedule. They were analyst and supply-chain expectations, not Apple announcements.
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iPhone: the prediction was substantially validated
Apple now sells iPhone Air and describes it as “the thinnest iPhone ever.” That makes the original thin-iPhone thesis more than a rumor in hindsight, although Apple did not make every iPhone dramatically thinner. Instead, it created a distinct Air model whose main design proposition is reduced thickness and portability.
Apple’s U.S. store listed iPhone Air from $999 and iPhone 17 from $799 on the cited product pages. Prices can vary with storage, carrier activation and promotions; U.S. sales tax is generally added at checkout. See Apple’s current store page and iPhone 17 buying page for live configurations.
| Model | What is established | Who should consider it |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone Air | Apple calls it the thinnest iPhone ever; U.S. price signal from $999 | Buyers who value pocketability and a visibly thinner design |
| iPhone 17 | Mainstream current model; U.S. price signal from $799 | Buyers seeking a lower price without paying specifically for thinness |
The 2024 report did not establish the Air name or its exact camera, battery or dimensions. Those details should be taken from Apple’s current technical specifications rather than inferred from the word “thin.”
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MacBook Pro: update delivered, radical redesign still unconfirmed
Apple’s 2026 announcement introduced MacBook Pro configurations using M5, M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. Apple continues to sell 14-inch and 16-inch models. Its announcement emphasizes performance, memory, connectivity and display capabilities, not a major thinner-chassis redesign. Apple’s technical information is available on its support page and its 2026 newsroom announcement.
The cited Apple buying pages showed a 14-inch MacBook Pro from prices that varied by page state and configuration; one page listed a $1,999 starting signal and a selected 14-inch M5 configuration listed a lower $1,699 signal. A 16-inch model was shown from $2,999 on another cited page. Check the live 14-inch buying page immediately before purchase.
Rumor coverage points to a future OLED-equipped MacBook Pro, sometimes described as a “MacBook Ultra,” with a thinner chassis potentially arriving in late 2026 or 2027. The timing and name are not confirmed by Apple. See the OLED/thinner redesign report and upcoming-products guide for the attributed speculation.
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Why a thinner Pro laptop is technically difficult
- Cooling: sustained M5 Pro and M5 Max workloads need heat removal; less internal volume can reduce thermal headroom or require different cooling.
- Battery: a slimmer enclosure can limit battery volume unless efficiency improvements compensate.
- Ports: Apple’s 2021 redesign became thicker partly to restore HDMI, an SD card slot, MagSafe and additional Thunderbolt connectivity.
- Durability and repair: a tightly integrated, lighter structure may require new materials and can make component replacement more difficult.
- Display technology: OLED may enable a thinner display assembly, but it does not by itself determine the thickness of the battery, keyboard, ports or chassis.
Therefore, the current M5 MacBook Pro should be treated as a known performance machine, not proof that the thin redesign described in 2024 has shipped.
Apple Watch: the least settled part of the claim
The original story connected a thinner watch to a possible anniversary redesign. Current Apple retail listings instead show Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Hermès models. Apple’s buying page does not confirm a major thinner-case successor.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsMacRumors’ 2026 product roundup still describes substantial future Watch changes as uncertain. Ideas such as Touch ID, additional health sensors or a dramatic case redesign remain disputed or unconfirmed; “Apple Watch X” is a rumor label, not an official product name.
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| Current model | U.S. starting-price signal | Design trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Series 11 | $399 | Mainstream features in a known, current design |
| SE 3 | $249 | Lower entry price, fewer premium features |
| Ultra 3 | $700 | Ruggedness and endurance over minimum thickness |
Case dimensions, weight, battery claims and materials vary by model. A thinner watch could be more comfortable for sleep and all-day wear, but a larger battery, stronger structure or sensor placement may matter more for a particular user.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is thinner automatically better?
Thinness is a design objective, not a guaranteed upgrade. The practical result depends on what Apple changes elsewhere.
- Battery life: less space can mean less battery capacity, especially in phones and watches.
- Thermals: thinner laptops may sustain lower power limits if cooling is reduced.
- Cameras: phone sensors and lenses occupy significant depth, potentially increasing a camera bump or requiring redesigned modules.
- Ports and ergonomics: a thinner laptop may be easier to carry but provide fewer connectors or a shallower keyboard and palm rest.
- Durability: thinner structures need careful reinforcement against bending and impact.
- Repairability: greater integration can increase repair complexity and replacement cost.
- Price: a new thin model may carry a premium, as the Air-versus-iPhone-17 pricing signals suggest.
Buy now or wait?
iPhone
Buy iPhone Air now if minimum thickness and portability are your main priorities and its premium is acceptable. Choose iPhone 17 if you want a current mainstream phone at a lower starting price. Wait only if you do not need an upgrade and want to see how Apple develops the Air concept; no specific future thinner iPhone date is established here.
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MacBook Pro
Buy the current MacBook Pro if you need dependable sustained performance, its port selection and a known configuration for work or school. Wait for a possible OLED redesign only if you can tolerate uncertain timing, potentially high first-generation pricing and unknown compromises in cooling, battery and ports. “Late 2026” or “2027” remains an attributed estimate, not a release commitment.
Apple Watch
Buy Series 11, SE 3 or Ultra 3 based on health features, budget, battery expectations and durability needs. Wait if a thinner case is your overriding goal and your current watch remains usable; there is no confirmed launch date for a major thinner redesign.
Prediction versus outcome
| Claim | Assessment as of August 18, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Apple was pursuing a thinner iPhone | Substantially validated |
| Apple launched a thinner iPhone model | Confirmed through iPhone Air |
| Apple launched a major thin MacBook Pro redesign | Not established by current official information |
| A thinner OLED MacBook Pro is coming soon | Rumored, not confirmed |
| Apple Watch will receive a major thinner redesign | Possible but unconfirmed |
| All three products will launch together | Unsupported |
The June 2024 report therefore had a credible direction but not one shared outcome. iPhone Air is the clearest result; MacBook Pro and Apple Watch buyers should make decisions from products Apple actually sells, not from an assumed synchronized thinness strategy.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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