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iPhone 17 Said to Feature More Seamless Camera Bump Design

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The design of this year's next-generation iPhone 17 will allegedly feature a smoother transition between the edges of the camera bump and the back cover, owing to Apple's use of a new glass-and-metal splicing material process. That's according to the Weibo-based leaker Fixed Focus Digital.

iPhone-17-Pro-Dual-Tone-Rectangle-Slimmer-Feature-1.jpg

In a post on Monday, the Chinese leaker claimed that suppliers say the iPhone 17 is adopting a "process overhaul," suggesting that Apple has developed new manufacturing techniques to create smoother transitions between different materials. "The key point is that the connection area between the body's deco [camera bump] and the back cover is a slope rather than a step," said the leaker, based on a machine translation. The "slope" likely refers to the smooth aesthetic transition between the camera bump and the rear – or where the protruding aluminum lens module meets the back cover.

For the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple is allegedly planning to eliminate the titanium frame, instead going back to aluminum. Along with an aluminum frame, the iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to include a half-aluminum, half-glass backing, rather than an all-glass back. The top half of the back will be made from aluminum, while the bottom half will continue to be made from glass to support wireless charging functionality.

It's unclear whether Fixed Focus Digital is referring specifically to the iPhone 17 Pro models or the iPhone 17 series per se. Less is known about the design of the standard iPhone 17 model, while the Plus model is expected to be replaced by an iPhone 17 "Air" featuring a completely new slimmer design.

On the iPhone 17 Pro models, Apple is also believed to be planning for a larger "rectangular" camera bump that is made from aluminum rather than glass. Supply chain leaks have backed up a report by The Information about a camera design change. Leaks coming out of China suggest that the module is an "elongated oval shape," rather than a rectangular shape. The iPhone 17 series is expected to arrive around the usual mid-September time frame.

Last week, the account Fixed Focus Digital claimed that the fourth-generation iPhone SE will be named the iPhone 16E, echoing claims from other sources.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Said to Feature More Seamless Camera Bump Design
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/01/06/iphone-17-design-smoother-edge-to-back/
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For the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple is allegedly planning to eliminate the titanium frame, instead going back to aluminum. Along with an aluminum frame, the iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to include a half-aluminum, half-glass backing, rather than an all-glass back. The top half of the back will be made from aluminum, while the bottom half will continue to be made from glass to support wireless charging functionality.
Click to expand...

Press X to doubt.
 
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This is such an unsightly design. If it does turn out to be the final thing we have, it will stick around for another half a decade.
 
timber said:
That design is kind of reminiscent of Google's Pixel style.
Click to expand...
Yeah. There were some rumors that it’s not going to have cameras like that also. However, the Pixel is so much nicer looking and feeling than the iPhone, I wish Apple copied the Pixel and Samsung Ultra in ways. Like iOS and A-series SoC but a completely different design. The iPhone Pro is boring and brute looking with the three cameras on the back. Also terrible to set on a table. Just an antiquated design to make it look like and Apple device. Just like the stupid notch then island.
 
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I still don’t see how they can market aluminum over titanium, have my doubts about this.

I’ve never thought of glass as a “premium” material anyways, I’d like to see them go to a 100% metal rear. Can keep the magnets for all the various mounts n stuff, and use a MacBook style connector that could attach to the side somewhere for charging. Gives you better heat management and more space for a vapor chamber.
 
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"Along with an aluminum frame, the iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to include a half-aluminum, half-glass backing, rather than an all-glass back."

WHAT IF.... it is folding and one half has glass back and other is aluminum.... bet nobody has thought of this yet....look how fancy I edited this.
 
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As much as I like titanium. There is nothing "feels" Titanium on my iPhone 16 Pro compared to iPhone 15. It is only in marketing and weight would I notice it.

But the glass in itself is going to be heavier than Aluminium assuming keeping same strength of iPhone. ( Or they have a new type of glass )

But the rumours is a welcome change because a lot of these direction are pointing to the same results. Lighter weight on Pro models. Especially the Pro Max.
 
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redbeard331 said:
I still don’t see how they can market aluminum over titanium, have my doubts about this.

I’ve never thought of glass as a “premium” material anyways, I’d like to see them go to a 100% metal rear. Can keep the magnets for all the various mounts n stuff, and use a MacBook style connector that could attach to the side somewhere for charging. Gives you better heat management and more space for a vapor chamber.
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And how would wireless charging be achieved with a 100% metal rear?
 
redbeard331 said:
I still don’t see how they can market aluminum over titanium, have my doubts about this.

I’ve never thought of glass as a “premium” material anyways, I’d like to see them go to a 100% metal rear. Can keep the magnets for all the various mounts n stuff, and use a MacBook style connector that could attach to the side somewhere for charging. Gives you better heat management and more space for a vapor chamber.
Click to expand...
When the iPhone was brand new, capped at 8GB storage and lacking major features like 3G, I remember picturing a future "iPhone Pro" as an aluminum "unibody". I even pictured an array of laser-drilled vent holes (I didn't expect a water-resistant iPhone so soon). My 2nd Mac was a 13" unibody MBP that lasted 10 years - most reliable computer I've ever owned (due in part to a $2-per-gigabyte SSD😬 upgrade in early 2011). It would have lived longer, too, but I accidentally spilled half a liter of vodka on the keyboard after getting wasted on my birthday.
 
My 13 is pretty much dying (the battery).
I'll be pretty much forced to upgrade in September.
One cool thing is that Apple Intelligence will have rolled out in the EU by then.

I'll probably get a regular 17, hoping it'll have a 120hz screen
 
JippaLippa said:
My 13 is pretty much dying (the battery).
I'll be pretty much forced to upgrade in September.
One cool thing is that Apple Intelligence will have rolled out in the EU by then.

I'll probably get a regular 17, hoping it'll have a 120hz screen
Click to expand...

Or just save your money and replace the battery, unless AI is a must for you.
 
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ct2k7 said:
And how would wireless charging be achieved with a 100% metal rear?
Click to expand...
  1. Touch 3 fingers of 1 hand to 3 cleverly-named points on the metal frame.
  2. Insert 💰💰 proprietary device that only looks like an unfolded paper clip into electrical socket with other hand.*
  3. Vibrate and organically smoke a bit while phone magically charges.
  4. When phone is fully charged, take a selfie of your new ruggedly-charred look and Einstein hair.
*new ultra rapid charge involves holding a 💰💰💰 proprietary rod that only looks like a copper grounding rod in the “paper clip” hand OUTSIDE, during a thunderstorm.

😉​
 
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Firestorm007 said:
How are you going to be able to take landscape photos without getting your fingers in front of the lenses? 🤔
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By shooting pics or video like most do now: holding phone in portrait orientation. Finally in software, you choose screen-filling landscape vs. tall & skinny portrait video… like how we choose to shoot a picture vs. a video now. Make a choice and shoot your video as chosen.

And I actually think this would be a good change as the habit seems locked in. Even when one explains that if someone wants their video to eventually fill their TV screen, the next time(s) they shoot they’ll prob hold it in portrait again. They’ll also be likely to complain about the big black blocks on each side of their video when played on a TV, listen to why it looks like that but then shoot new video in portrait again. The habit seems locked. Fixing it in software seems best general-purpose remedy.
 
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Firestorm007 said:
How are you going to be able to take landscape photos without getting your fingers in front of the lenses? 🤔
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The renders are obviously speculative, but I wondered the same thing. I also wondered if you will be forced to use portrait orientation to take spatial videos. Maybe Apple is finally coming to terms with the idea that pretending a phone can emulate the ergonomics of an actual camera is a fool’s errand. 🤷‍♂️
 
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