Apple has kept the design of its iPhones largely similar throughout the years. Honestly, it’s getting boring. However, recent rumors claim that the iPhone 17 series could usher in a brand-new design. This is thanks to a CAD rendering of a case for the iPhone 17 Pro, and it looks like those rumors could be true.
New camera design
A render shared on X by @MajinBuOfficial, who obtained the image from @jashankbhatia, shows a CAD design for a case allegedly for the iPhone 17 Pro. Assuming this design is accurate and based on the iPhone 17 Pro’s schematics, we can expect a brand-new camera design.
Over the years, Apple has kept the camera module on the side on the back of the iPhone. This case render suggests that Apple will continue doing the same thing. However, instead of being an island on the side, the camera module now stretches across the entire upper portion of the iPhone.
It’s a weird design choice, although some have likened it to Google’s camera module for its Pixel phones. The main difference is that Google uses the entire camera bar, whereas this design suggests that Apple will keep the lenses together in their usual cluster formation. The case render also shows two cutouts in addition to the lens cutouts. Presumably, one will be for the flash unit and the other for the depth-sensing unit. It is quite a bold design choice, but other than for the sake of aesthetics, we can’t imagine what kind of benefits this change is supposed to bring.
Coming later this year
Apple will unveil its new iPhone 17 series this year. These new iPhones serve as the successor to 2024’s iPhone 16 series. While Apple announces new iPhones every year, this year could be quite an interesting launch.
We expect Apple will introduce the base iPhone 17 model along with the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. However, this year we’re hearing rumors that Apple could drop the iPhone 17 Plus model. Instead, Apple will introduce a new iPhone 17 Air/Slim model. This model will be thinner than the rest of the iPhones. This seems to be a similar strategy to Samsung. The company is expected to launch the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge later this year.
Apple might compromise on the specs of the iPhone 17 Air. Instead, the company will position the phone using its aesthetics as a selling point. As we said, the design of the iPhone hasn’t changed over the years, so the iPhone 17 Air could be a breath of fresh air (pun intended) that some users have been waiting for.