UK (Commonwealth Union)_ In a rare spotlight moment for one of Apple’s lesser-known creative minds, British-Bangladeshi designer Abidur Chowdhury has emerged as a crucial figure behind Apple’s thinnest iPhone yet, the newly released iPhone 17 Air. The iPhone Air, unveiled at Apple’s Cupertino headquarters, marks the company’s bold new approach. Touted as the most lightweight and compact iPhone to date, it is built with a titanium frame and starts at ₹119,900 in India for the 256GB version.
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“We wanted to build an iPhone that feels like it belongs in the future,” said Chowdhury during the launch event. “It’s the thinnest iPhone ever made, but it’s still packed with Pro-level performance. It’s a paradox you have to hold to believe.” The iPhone Air is around a third slimmer than previous models and features a sleek single-lens camera with telephoto capabilities. Additionally, with the built-in AI, the phone automatically enhances photographs and manages battery usage efficiently, allowing for full-day use despite its smaller battery size.
Inside Apple’s launch event
Generally, CEO Tim Cook or a senior member of Apple’s executive team hosts Apple’s product launch events. But this year, it was Chowdhury who captivated the attention of the entire world with an extraordinarily clear and confident presentation, especially considering his role on the design team. Particularly noteworthy were his calm presence and thoughtful statements, which demonstrated the meticulous attention to detail behind Apple’s flagship products.
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Abidur Chowdhury
Chowdhury was born and raised in London and is currently based in San Francisco, where he works at Apple as an industrial designer. He identifies himself as someone who appreciates problem-solving and designing goods that people cannot live without. He studied product design and technology at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom. During his tenure there, he received numerous awards, including the James Dyson Foundation Bursary and the coveted Red Dot Design Award in 2016 for his “Plug and Play” design.
Moreover, Chowdhury began his career by working as an intern at some top firms, like Cambridge Consulting and Curventa. A few years later, he was working for Layer Design in London before establishing his own company, Abidur Chowdhury Design. Through this enterprise, he worked with a variety of design agencies, software companies, and startups to bring new ideas to reality. In 2019, Chowdhury moved to California to start working in Apple’s industrial design team, and since then, he has worked on several high-profile product developments, the iPhone Air being his most publicly-facing project to date.
Inside the iPhone 17 Air
The iPhone Air is not just thinner; it is also reengineered from the inside out. Its redesigned camera bump now houses the primary camera, sophisticated chips, and vital system components. The remaining space is allocated to a special high-density battery, which has been optimized by clever software to last all day. The phone includes a single camera lens, powered by AI enhancements that rival the quality of Apple’s larger, more expensive Pro models.
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Launch of the full iPhone 17 lineup
The launch event also introduced the full iPhone 17 lineup, including the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max. These smartphones have larger displays, enhanced camera systems, and Apple’s new A19 Pro CPU for speedier performance. The AirPods Pro 3 was another notable announcement, with enhancements to noise cancellation and the ability to provide real-time transcribing. The Apple Watch Series 11 will also be available with 5G wireless capabilities as well as enhanced health tracking features, pending regulatory approvals. The iPhone Air is anticipated to be available in multiple colors and storage options in India, with pre-orders anticipated shortly.
