Apple is examining whether to revive its decade-old bumper accessory for the forthcoming iPhone 17 Air, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported. The edge-only case, last sold with the iPhone 4 in 2010, would shield the handset’s sides while leaving the back exposed. The move is meant to complement the iPhone 17 Air’s ultra-slim profile, rumored to measure about 5.5 mm. Conventional full-body covers would add unwanted bulk to a model positioned as Apple’s thinnest iPhone yet. Supply-chain leaks suggest the Air will replace the current Plus variant when Apple unveils the wider iPhone 17 range in early September. The handset is expected to ship with a single rear camera and a 2,900 mAh battery, prompting Apple to prototype a magnetically attached battery case for extra runtime. Apple’s event is widely expected around 10 September, the same day Huawei is tipped to show its $2,800 Mate XT foldable. The timing underscores intensifying competition as both companies seek attention for hardware revamps ahead of the year-end shopping season.