The Missed Opportunity: Why Xiaomi 17 Air Should Have Been the Ultimate Ultra-Slim Phone

In the year 2025, I had the opportunity to test three ultra-slim smartphones, only to find them all lacking in various aspects.

The iPhone Air, Galaxy S25 Edge, and Motorola Edge 70, despite their sleek designs, failed to deliver a satisfactory user experience. Both Apple and Samsung’s offerings demanded a premium price for subpar performance.

Although Honor recently unveiled the Magic 8 Pro Air in China, it seems to be an exception to the trend. Reports indicate that there will be no Edge model in the upcoming Galaxy S26 series, and dwindling sales of the iPhone Air have allegedly led Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo to discontinue production of their own slim devices.

Having been disappointed by ultra-slim phones multiple times in the past year, the news of potential discontinuation was initially welcome. However, my excitement was reignited upon learning about the leaked specifications of the Xiaomi 17 Air.

Could this be the ultra-slim phone I’ve been waiting for?

Naturally, leaked information should be taken with a grain of salt, as there is no guarantee of accuracy or implementation in the final product.

If the claims by Weibo leaker Bold Panda are accurate, the Xiaomi 17 Air would have set a new standard for slim phones at just 5.5mm thick.

Featuring a 6.59-inch display, it would have positioned itself between the 6.5-inch iPhone Air and the 6.7-inch Galaxy S25 Edge and Motorola Edge 70.

Another reputable leaker, Digital Chat Station, added that the Xiaomi 17 Air would have a lightweight chassis weighing between 160g and 169g.

The device’s dual rear camera setup was rumored to include a 200MP lens, possibly the same 3.7x periscope telephoto found in the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. With Xiaomi’s reputation for exceptional photography, the image quality could have rivaled that of top-tier camera phones.

Reportedly, the battery capacity would have been below 6000mAh but still larger than 5000mAh, surpassing the 4800mAh capacity of the Motorola Edge 70 – the largest battery in a slim device thus far.

The standout feature of the Xiaomi 17 Air would have been the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, making it the most powerful slim Android phone to date.

Bored Panda via Weibo / GSMArena (edited)

It is regrettable that internal assessments indicated a lack of demand for ultra-slim phones, potentially leading to the cancellation of the Xiaomi 17 Air. This missed opportunity is disappointing, as I believe this device had the potential to redefine the perception of slim smartphones.

For now, all hopes rest on the Honor Magic 8 Pro Air, although its global availability remains uncertain.

If a slim design is not a top priority, there are several outstanding smartphone options available, as detailed in our comprehensive guide to the best phones on the market.