The revelations surrounding the possible design of the iPhone 17 Pro continue. A new image has now emerged that allegedly shows an important part of the casing. The iPhone 17 Pro is therefore very reminiscent of a much older smartphone.
iPhone 17 Pro leaked in China
A user posted a photo on the Chinese social network Weibo that allegedly showed the frame of the iPhone 17 Pro. The part is said to come from Apple’s production chain and shows massive adjustments from the Pro model. We see a horizontal strip for the camera lenses on the back. No more camera island, but a camera strip.
Such early leaks should always be treated with a grain of salt. However, this drastic redesign of the iPhone 17 Pro is in line with previous reports.
iPhone 17 Pro inspired by Google Pixel and Nexus
If Apple does indeed place the camera element horizontally on the back near the top edge, this would be an unexpected style change. The render images circulating on the web are mainly inspired by one model: Google’s Pixel 9 Pro. Since the Pixel 6, Pixel smartphones have had a horizontal camera element on the back, which has practically become the recognizable design element of Google’s smartphones.
Apple is also rumored to be planning to use aluminum instead of titanium as the casing material. The frame and camera bar would be made of the metal. This is also suggested by the leaked image. In this combination, the design of the iPhone 17 Pro is mainly reminiscent of a much older smartphone from Google: the Nexus 6P.
This phone, which was once produced for Google by Huawei, has an aluminum body with a back that flows seamlessly into a horizontal camera strip at the top edge. The completely blackened front of the element partially hides the camera lens. Apple could make a similar design decision. With the Dynamic Island, for example, the company also masks the camera lenses with a software trick for a cooler look.
iPhone 17 Pro design: the Apple way
Whether and how Apple will ultimately adjust the design of the iPhone 17 Pro remains to be seen. The launch of the next iPhone generation, which is expected to take place in September 2025, is still a long way off. Apple can throw plans overboard several times. For example, the major redesign of the Apple Watch Series 10, expected by the tech media, recently failed to materialize.
In any case, one thing is clear: it won’t be as simple as the early renderings. Apple’s designers and associated marketing team will no doubt find yet another trick to clearly differentiate the look from competing products currently available.
Apple’s phones must remain clearly recognizable as such from a distance. The appearance is then usually adopted by other manufacturers. That will be no different now. iPhoned keeps you informed.
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