Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,702
39,620


Seasoned leaker Sonny Dickson shared rendered images over the weekend depicting what the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max could look like when housed in a transparent MagSafe case, based on the latest rumors.

iPhone-17-Pro-Render-Front-Page-Tech.jpg

The main difference we're expecting in Apple's largest premium model is the redesigned camera system on the rear. Rather than a square bump, Apple could adopt a larger rectangular camera bump that's made from aluminum instead of glass.

The first significant rumor regarding design updates for the iPhone 17 lineup surfaced last November from Wayne Ma at The Information. Ma reported that the rear casing of the ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌ models will adopt a hybrid aluminum-and-glass construction.

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," claimed the report, while the bottom half will continue to be made of glass to support wireless charging.

Earlier this month, leaker Jon Prosser a shared a render of the iPhone 17 Pro. The ‌iPhone 17 Pro‌'s three rear cameras will apparently be arranged in a familiar triangular layout, but housed in an all-new rectangular bar that extends all the way across the back of the device.


These rumors feed into reports that suggest Apple could completely do away with the titanium frame that it's used for the last several years, instead going back to aluminum.

Both of the iPhone 17 Pro models are said to feature these changes, while the all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, which replaces the Plus model in the lineup, is also rumored to feature a horizontal rear camera bar, albeit housing just one camera. Meanwhile, recent rumors suggest that the standard iPhone 17 model will retain the same rear camera system design that's used in current iPhone 16 models. The iPhone 17 lineup is expected to launch around mid-September.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Pro Max in MagSafe Case: Here's How It Could Look
 
As someone said here before, moving the flash that far away from the camera creates shadowing and the LiDAR sensor will suffer from pixel misalignment. You'll cover them both whe using the phone to shoot in landscape.

In short there is no way they will both end up in that position and these rumours are bogus.
 
We don't need any more holes and crevices for dust and lint to get caught in, the lenses protruding from the bump is already bad enough. I can't see this being the final design, flash being separated from the lens is fine, but I don't see how it will work very well with the LIDAR.
 
Why clump the three lenses together if you’re using the entire width on the phone. Just place the lenses in a thinner line. At least that way it would sit on a table without rocking. Better still place them in a line but sink them into the phone so they’re flush. Sure you lose a little space for battery but make the phone a tad thicker to compensate.
 
The cynic in me thinks it's to make sure that people can easily tell whether you have the latest iPhone Pro or not. Sad as it sounds, that alone would cause a large number of people to upgrade...
How many weeks until aliexpress have a case for an older phone with this fake feature? I’ve seen clip on covers to make Apple Watch look like an ultra. They even sell fake lenses to make your phone look like a pro
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2278.png
    IMG_2278.png
    698.2 KB · Views: 55
Last edited:
it's a new magnetic area for mounting Apple camera attachments to the lenses for Pro users.
 
  • Disagree
Reactions: iGüey
Why the assumption of magsafe inclusion? I would not be surprised if Apple pivots away from magsafe.
 
I can’t wait for all the “you’re holding it wrong” posts when people realize they’re covering the flash with their fingers now that the camera island stretches all the way across the phone.

This. 100% this.
I just do not get this design choice at all.
I hope its all wrong!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lamborrari
As someone said here before, moving the flash that far away from the camera creates shadowing and the LiDAR sensor will suffer from pixel misalignment. You'll cover them both whe using the phone to shoot in landscape.

In short there is no way they will both end up in that position and these rumours are bogus.
Have you seen external flash on bigger cameras? They are positioned much farther apart from one another. The distance here is barely has any effect.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SoVaRo and Davelfc
Beautiful Design 😍 Hopefully we will get 8K video recording and a smaller Dynamic Island.
I think it's just you and me that like this design... In my case (GET IT?!?), I'll keep a case on it so the 'two toned' part of it would just be covered up, but knowing it'll sit regularly on a table and not wobble around because of the camera lump is great news.
 
Have you seen external flash on bigger cameras? They are positioned much farther apart from one another. The distance here is barely has any effect.
But it’s bigger to compensate. We’re assuming all that blank space based on the current 16 Pro design. I wonder if Apple might use it to put in a larger Xenon flash and a higher resolution LiDAR sensor?
 
But it’s bigger to compensate. We’re assuming all that blank space based on the current 16 Pro design. I wonder if Apple might use it to put in a larger Xenon flash and a higher resolution LiDAR sensor?
It's less to do with size, and more that you actually don't want flash positioned right next to a lens anyway. On camera direct flash, including hot shoe mounted, is going to produce unflattering light, so speedlites are usually modified to bounce and diffuse. Honestly you probably won't notice a difference here, the only situation where this might be an issue for the iPhone is macro.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.