First iPhone 17 Pro Design Leak Claims Surprising Return to Aluminum, Rectangular Camera Bump, and More

[Royksöpp]

A unibody aluminum frame, with the frame and back as a single uniform piece, would look excellent. This design could streamline manufacturing and hopefully reduce weight. However, my one concern is camera replacement—it would need to be accessed from the front, which could slightly compromise repairability. Still, a new design is exciting. I prefer aluminum, so I welcome the change. Just imagine how sick a solid silver aluminum or space black would look like.

 

[Tagbert]

I could see replacing the top of the back with aluminum as a weight savings, particularly replacing the camera bump. Aluminum is significantly lighter than glass.

I wouldn't mind if they replaced the back glass with polycarbonate. Lighter and less breakage.

 

[Siliconguy]

Is it just me, or has Apple hit a bit of a creative plateau when it comes to iPhone innovation?

Fair question. What do you want them to do?

 

[Saturn1217]

Huh. On the one hand going back to an aluminum (and presumably lighter) frame and a change to the camera bump is very exciting.

On the other hand I really was kind of counting on one more iteration of the current design as it generally takes Apple at least one additional release to get new designs right.

I’m particularly worried that Apple is going to reverse course on screen size and/or battery life in the 17 Pro Max.

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. I really really do not want to hold into my 13 Pro Max for an extra year.

 

[Siliconguy]

This makes me think if the Titanium supplier has raised prices, or if this is just a measure to lower cost of the Pro lineup. Intriguing…

Apple figured out that titanium is one of the least Green materials that exists. And no using recycled titanium doesn't count as Green as it still increases overall demand for the metal.

 

[ab2c4]

I don't understand all the fuss over titanium. Apple periodically plays with titanium, and pretty quickly realizes it's not a great material. We had the TiBook, those definitely didn't hold up well, now they've tried and failed with it on phones. They periodically try it on watches, we'll see how long it lasts this phase.

I don't understand the fuss over titantium or stainless steel. I can't tell the difference between iPhones with any of the three types of metals if they have the same finish. The benefit to aluminum is lighter weight and less cost so I'm all for it.

 

[Reason077]

A glass and aluminum back can be premium, just look at iPhone 5. It’s lightweight as well.

True. If you pick up an iPhone 5 today it seems almost impossibly thin and light compared to modern phones!

The screen is pretty small, though, of course. We must have all had better eyesight back then 😂

 

[Rychiar]

I would prefer a single flush camera, so anything requiring a layout is already too much.

that's crippling the hardware though, these lenses are too small to have zoom internal. I like the row of lenses on top approach best and that's what I hope they go with moving forward. also space out the lenses some for spatial video so its more dynamic

 

[smulji]

Anything under Cook will be to save Costs. Titanium is very expensive and do that times 10 million iPhones 🤑

You're not wrong but that said I actually much prefer the aluminum casing vs Titanium or even Stainless Steel. It's lighter and feels and looks just as premium.

 

[smulji]

all Macbooks are aluminium, so is the Mac Mini, so is the Mac studio..

And iPads.

 

[sunapple]

True. If you pick up an iPhone 5 today it seems almost impossibly thin and light compared to modern phones!

The screen is pretty small, though, of course. We must have all had better eyesight back then 😂

Don't forget smaller fingers, I tried typing on an SE the other day and it seems impossible now! Coming from a 13 mini owner..

 

[Regret]

I bet the aluminium will only be on the back and the sides will continue to be titanium, kinda like they already have with the titanium exterior with an aluminium interior design. I doubt they’d completely get rid of titanium after making such a big deal out of it for the past year or so

 

[kamyk35]

Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will offer "significant design changes," The Information's Wayne Ma reports.

The two flagship iPhone 17 models will be the first high-end iPhones to feature an aluminum frame since the delineation of the iPhone lineup into Pro and non-Pro models. In recent years, lower-end iPhone models such as the iPhone SE and iPhone 16 have featured aluminum frames. Until the release of the iPhone 15 Pro, high-end iPhone models featured stainless steel frames. Now, the high-end iPhones feature titanium chassis – a change that was touted as one of the key upgrades of the iPhone 15 Pro. With the introduction of the iPhone 17 lineup, Apple is reportedly planning to bring the entire selection of devices back to aluminum.

The rear of the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Max will also feature a new part-aluminum, part-glass design. The top half of the back will be made of aluminum and feature a "rectangular camera bump made of aluminum rather than traditional 3D glass," while the bottom half will continue to be made of glass to support wireless charging. Apple introduced a glass back to the iPhone with the iPhone 8 and iPhone X in 2017, but prior to that, every iPhone except the iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, and iPhone 5C had an aluminum rear. The new, aluminum camera bump of the iPhone 17 Pro will also apparently be larger than that of previous models.

The new design will constitute one of the most significant visual changes to the high-end iPhone models in recent years. The Information has an excellent track record for accurate Apple rumors, so the latest report is highly likely to pan out. The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are expected to launch in the fall of 2025 alongside the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air.

Article Link: First iPhone 17 Pro Design Leak Claims Surprising Return to Aluminum, Rectangular Camera Bump, and More

Heat dissipation is probably the prime reason for going aluminum, especially the top half, where the processor is located, apple have not solved the heat problem with the iPhone 16 Pro and that will get worse as the phones need more processing power for AI

 

[Snide]

Heat dissipation is probably the prime reason for going aluminum, especially the top half, where the processor is located, apple have not solved the heat problem with the iPhone 16 Pro and that will get worse as the phones need more processing power for AI

Does the 16 Pro get significantly hotter than the base model?

 

[dzankizakon]

The benefit to aluminum is lighter weight and less cost so I'm all for it.

Less cost to Apple, zero difference to us.

 

[John_Blackthorne]

Hard no. I like the premium materials.

 

[John_Blackthorne]

Anything under Cook will be to save Costs. Titanium is very expensive and do that times 10 million iPhones 🤑

I assume you're trolling.

If not, you have an incredibly simplistic view of economics and running a business.

Low resolution thinking.

 

[Slackula]

If they promise it will be magical, I'll get one to replace my 12 Pro Max.

 

[jdawgnoonan]

I honestly do not really care what the metal on my phone is, though I prefer it not dent easily.

 

[redbeard331]

Heat dissipation is probably the prime reason for going aluminum, especially the top half, where the processor is located, apple have not solved the heat problem with the iPhone 16 Pro and that will get worse as the phones need more processing power for AI

That’s because they refuse to put in any kind of active cooling yet bring out hotter chips every year. The best solution would be to use titanium for the sides and aluminum for the rear. Going back to soft aluminum after all these years would be a huge step backwards.

 

[wheelhot]

I doubt so, what marketing spin Apple has to do to go back to Aluminum? Since Stainless and Titanium has been marketed as a more premium material and that the iPhone Pro as premium product lineups.

Especially at the frames as the new titanium frames loooooks gooooood. I wouldn't be surprised if we go back to Aluminium back plates cause of heat issues.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

This is one of those rumors that we will laugh about next September…

To be honest, I don’t really know, the information is pretty reliable.
Also this time last year we were laughing about a so called “capture button” that would be on all four 16s? Na.

So an iPhone redesign makes a lot of sense.

It’s not necessarily that big of a deal or unheard of. The 4S was glass and stainless steel, the 5 was glass and aluminum.
The first PowerMac G4 was titanium, the second was aluminum.
The first four versions of the iPod touch or stainless steel on the back, the fifth was aluminum.

 

[svish]

Not so sure about the use of Aluminum frames. However it can follow the iPad Pro design. I think the frames will continue to be Titanium, the camera bump/island will be enclosed in aluminum, rectangular or not and the rest of the back will be glass to support wireless charging.

 

[UltimaKilo]

If they promise it will be magical, I'll get one to replace my 12 Pro Max.

Whatever they put out is going to be a massive upgrade for you!

I’m more interested in additional RAM and efficiency.

 

[Dog Bone Malone]

But, but, but.............................it'll be the 'best iPhone ever'. I can see the strapline now!