Apple's upcoming flagship smartphone appears to be undergoing a significant design transformation, particularly in its camera system. Recent leaks of protective cases for the iPhone 17 Pro have given tech enthusiasts an early glimpse at what might be the most dramatic redesign of the iPhone's camera array in years.
The New Camera Bar Design
According to recent leaks shared by tipster Majin Bu, the iPhone 17 Pro will feature a completely redesigned camera system that stretches across the entire width of the device's back. This represents a major departure from the current iPhone 16 Pro design, which features a square camera plateau positioned on the left side of the device. The new elongated camera tray will span from one edge to the other, creating what some are comparing to an exaggerated version of the visor-style camera bar seen on recent Google Pixel phones.
iPhone 17 Pro Leaked Design Features:
- Elongated camera bar spanning the entire width of the device
- Triple-lens camera system
- Repositioned LiDAR scanner, microphone, and LED flash
- Camera components arranged horizontally rather than in a square formation
Camera System Components
The leaked case images reveal that the new camera bar will house multiple components arranged in a line. These include a triple-lens camera setup, the LiDAR scanner, microphone, and LED flash. Notably, the LiDAR scanner, microphone, and LED flash appear to have been repositioned to the right side of the device's back, further emphasizing the horizontal design language of the new camera system.
Case Colors and Device Appearance
The protective cases shown in the leaks come in several pastel-colored options, including light blue, light green, light purple, off-white, and charcoal gray. While most of the device mockups shown in the images appear in white, one photo displays the camera bar with a dark gray finish. This has led to speculation that Apple might continue offering similar color options to those available for the iPhone 16 Pro models, which include white and gray variants.
Leaked Case Colors:
- Light blue
- Light green
- Light purple
- Off-white
- Charcoal gray
Credibility of the Leaks
These case leaks align with previous images shared by another prominent tipster, Sonny Dickson, adding credibility to the rumored design changes. It's worth noting that case manufacturers typically receive device dimensions and design details early in the production cycle to prepare their accessories for market launch. This often makes case leaks a reliable indicator of upcoming design changes.
Expected Internal Improvements
Beyond the external redesign, the iPhone 17 Pro is also rumored to feature significant internal upgrades. Reports suggest the device will incorporate a new vapor chamber cooling system to manage heat more efficiently and receive a RAM upgrade for improved performance. The device is expected to be powered by Apple's A19 Pro chip, which will likely deliver substantial performance gains and better power efficiency while continuing to use TSMC's 3nm manufacturing process.
Rumored Internal Upgrades:
- New vapor chamber cooling system
- RAM upgrade
- A19 Pro chip with performance and efficiency improvements
- Continued use of TSMC's 3nm manufacturing process
Price Considerations
Despite the significant design changes and internal improvements, there's some good news for consumers concerned about rising smartphone prices. Reports indicate that Apple might avoid price increases for the iPhone 17 Pro models, at least for now, as the continued use of the 3nm manufacturing process for the A19 Pro chip helps manage production costs.
Release Timeline
While Apple hasn't officially announced the iPhone 17 Pro, these design leaks provide an early look at what we might expect from the company's next flagship device. As with previous iPhone releases, we'll likely see more detailed information emerge as we get closer to Apple's traditional fall launch window.