iPhone 17 Said to Feature More Seamless Camera Bump Design

[HobeSoundDarryl]

No, watch local news. Citizens at the scene shoot some video to show the event and it's almost always portrait. Go to public events like sports or school events and look around. Many people shooting the game or graduation or similar are shooting it in portrait. Or just watch when the networks pan the audiences of any event. If you pay close attention, you are likely to see plenty of phones capturing the event... in portrait.

In my (fairly substantial) experience of trying to educate people on this topic, the habit is LOCKED IN... even for those who will then gripe about the end result of showing only a skinny vertical bar of video on their TV with 2 big black boxes left & right.

Minimally, I'd suggest Apple makes a splash screen asking how they want to ultimately display this video on a wide screen to educate people to rotate their phone if they want screen-filling video. But this hardware change could make the probably fewer among us who know to rotate adapt to shooting portrait (but capturing landscape).

Else, I don't think people will adapt even if the desired end result requires that they do. So maybe adapt the phone to capture what most probably desire while shifting the "tall & skinny" capture to having to rotate the phone (if necessary). People could still capture portrait oriented video but now it might require phone rotation... or clicking a button to choose it instead of landscape like we choose photo vs. video (capture).

 

[Andy_2341]

No, watch local news. Citizens at the scene shoot some video to show the event and it's almost always portrait. Go to public events like sports and look around. Many people shooting the game are shooting it in portrait. Or just watch when the networks pan the audiences of any event. If you pay close attention, you are likely to see plenty of phones capturing the event... in portrait.

In my (fairly substantial) experience of trying to educate people on this topic, the habit is LOCKED IN... even for those who will then gripe about the end result of showing only a skinny vertical bar of video on their TV with 2 big black boxes left & right.

Minimally, I'd suggest Apple makes a splash screen asking how they want to ultimately display this video on a wide screen to educate people to rotate their phone if they want screen-filling video. But this hardware change could make the probably fewer among us who know to rotate adapt to shooting portrait (but capturing landscape).

Else, I don't think people will adapt even if the desired end result requires that they do. So maybe adapt the phone to capture what most probably desire while shifting the "tall & skinny" capture to having to rotate the phone (if necessary).

You are probably correct. I haven’t really noticed this until you pointed out just how common it is. My only question is the camera button. It seems to be mimicking an actual camera, but people don’t seem to shoot that way.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Right... but if they are going to adjust the camera layout, they can easily move the button too. My guess is that many are accustomed to using the on-screen virtual button and just continue to do so.

Else, there's nothing really wrong with having a "shutter button" on the side of a camera. While uncommon, it would work about as good for a camera person on the side as it does on the top. In fact, I have a dedicated video camera and the record button is on the side.

 

[B4U]

Seamless bump sounds like smooth speed bump to me. 😂

 

[Marty80]

At least its a change after 5 years of waiting, this year might be the year i put my 12 pro max to rest.

 

[goobot]

Way to cope but how many devices before the pixel had the camera bar across like that?

iPhone 7+

 

[marinersaptcomplex]

A bit of a refinement of my earlier post

It ticks all the boxes of the rumours:

• full width camera bar ✅
• new glass and aluminium rear design ✅
• maintains triangular camera layout ✅

You also maintain a distinctive iPhone look whilst offering something new in a cleaner (imo) design

View attachment 2463667

@tomtad, your mockup is looking more and more likely imo!

 

[NeonNights]

I hope the renders are not accurate. I was never a fan of the Pixel camera bar, yet Apple managed to create an even uglier version. Yeesh.

 

[svish]

Still don't believe that Titanium will be replaced. Aluminum upper on the back for the camera region and glass below to allow for wireless charging. Slightly rounded edges will be good. Might make it better to hold.

 

[Mr_Ed]

Spatial video would be improved if the 2 lenses shooting it were about average eye width spaced apart. Lay your glasses or sunglasses on the existing triangle and you’ll see there is no combo spread wide enough. Now lay the same across the back as implied by this mockup and you’ll see that such a change could easily do it.

Bonus: the “wobbly” on table gripe gets addressed too.

Bonus 2: those that most covet a tangible cosmetic change to prove they have the latest iPhone to strangers could scratch their most important itch too.

Good observations. I generally prefer to shoot photo/video in landscape orientation mostly because I hate dealing with the smaller “landscape forced to portrait” image while shooting.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I shoot that way too because I know the end result is to watch on a landscape-oriented screen. However, so much video brought to me “to fix” (get rid of the big black blocks on the left & right) or so much video I casually see shot portrait but would have been better shot landscape is what this is about.

You and I have figured it out. Much of the world have locked in a habit of always shooting portrait. The potential change would be about THEM… not us. If this rumor is true about a change to the triangle, this would be a prime opportunity to finally address this.

Then we would have to change to holding the phone in portrait to capture landscape video, but we’re probably the easier segment to adapt.

Else, portrait video continues to pop up everywhere such as local news or in home movie footage, etc… almost all of which would be better captured in landscape.

If not this, how about a splash screen aiming to help so many others grasp that if they ultimately want to watch what they are about to shoot in landscape, ROTATE THE PHONE NOW!

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

​

If Apple embraces what this rumor implies, spatial video will be improved by spacing the lenses that shoot it more towards average eye width (that's not possible in the current triangle).

The wobble on table gripe would be mitigated too.

The crowd that longs for some kind of obvious form factor change so that strangers will know they own the "latest & greatest" iPhone could get that itch scratched too.

If we go fully objective, is fish #2 actually "prettier" than fish #1? Note: you are not fully objective if after Apple makes the change, suddenly fish #1 becomes "prettier."

 

[tomtad]

@tomtad, your mockup is looking more and more likely imo!

Certainly seems like it could be. See below the mock up I did a few weeks back for anyone who didn't see it.

 

[Andy_2341]

Certainly seems like it could be. See below the mock up I did a few weeks back for anyone who didn't see it.

View attachment 2470003

Nice. What if Apple reversed the iPhone 5s style and also had the aluminum strip on the bottom too? That could be cool, even though it probably wouldn't happen since that is more complex.

 

[geta]

Certainly seems like it could be. See below the mock up I did a few weeks back for anyone who didn't see it.

View attachment 2470003

It's not even possible to make a mockup without the camera bump…

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

A rumor is calling a new iPhone an "Air." As we know from the original MBair, there was a wedge shape to let Apple spin "thinner" based upon the thinner end in spit of it thickening at the other end.

Imagine an iPhone "air" that uses the same wedge shape approach: thicker at the camera end for an iPhone 5-type flush camera fit and "thinner" at the other end for the marketing spin... EXACTLY as Apple did with MBair Gen 1.

The thinner end of such a wedge shape would even more easily slide into any pocket. Apple has long-since proven they know how to stack batteries in those MBs that had thin edges and thickened in the middle. At least one of the iMacs did that too (thin at the edges but thicker in the middle).

TomTad: why don't you take a crack at this one too? It would only take a little modification for the one you've mocked up in that photo to give this a steadily (gently) sloping back to a very skinny end. Shift the lower button up just a bit if the slope impacts its fit.

This wedge shape seems even "easier" if the rumored triangle-to-straight-across camera layout comes into play.

 

[procksa49er1120]

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.

As someone who likes to use my phone when I do not want to carry my DSLR, the portrait orientation landscape then crop later, aka lose MP / resolution, that is a non-starter. I will buy the 16pro max and hang onto it like i have my 13 pro max.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

There would be NO losing resolution at all. The triangle layout is not necessary to preserve resolution. What resolution do Pixel cameras that already have that camera layout shoot?

And no "cropping later" just as there is no cropping now. The phone is held different in this concept but the picture/video capture is the same.

This concept is not about creating more work or sacrificing quality of images... just correcting a bad habit that leads to countless videos being shot portrait that would probably be better shot landscape. Fix it this way or insert a splash screen to let picture taker re-learn how to hold the phone to ultimately display whatever they want to shoot as they want to see it on the future screen.

 

[Andy_2341]

A rumor is calling a new iPhone an "Air." As we know from the original MBair, there was a wedge shape to let Apple spin "thinner" based upon the thinner end in spit of it thickening at the other end.

Imagine an iPhone "air" that uses the same wedge shape approach: thicker at the camera end for an iPhone 5-type flush camera fit and "thinner" at the other end for the marketing spin... EXACTLY as Apple did with MBair Gen 1.

The thinner end of such a wedge shape would even more easily slide into any pocket. Apple has long-since proven they know how to stack batteries in those MBs that had thin edges and thickened in the middle. At least one of the iMacs did that too (thin at the edges but thicker in the middle).

TomTad: why don't you take a crack at this one too? It would only take a little modification for the one you've mocked up in that photo to give this a steadily (gently) sloping back to a very skinny end. Shift the lower button up just a bit if the slope impacts its fit.

This wedge shape seems even "easier" if the rumored triangle-to-straight-across camera layout comes into play.

Even though I prefer the triangle over the line concept, if it gets rid of the camera bump, I would definitely consider upgrading. The camera bump is the only thing about my 15P that is worse than my SE3

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Apple can certainly do it...

I don't recall many calling THAT iPhone "thick" or "onerous" back in the day. In fact, here's the numbers...

iPhone 5S thickness: 7.6mm
iPhone 15 thickness: 7.8mm
iPhone 15 Pro/Max: 8.25mm

Now, modern cameras are superior to that 5S camera, so if Apple tried to fit the modern camera into the 5S body, it would probably not win the "thin" contest. However, obviously, it doesn't have to be dramatically thicker either. If today's cameras work in up to 8.3mm thick cases, a modern day 5S thicker end at 8.3mm could accommodate it.

Then wedge thin the phone down to the other end to end up with a skinny thin end... like the edges of that MBpro a few years ago and that iMac that was thin at the edges but fattened in the middle. It seems, Apple could have their "big reveal" marketing "thinner" spin AND flush (or near flush) mount today's cameras in a wedge iPhone Air shape.

This concept would seem to work even better if the camera modules bailed on the triangle layout and adopted the across layout. The thick (enough for flush mount) end would only need to be thick for a little more than the width of the camera lenses all nicely lined up.

Of course, this depends on them wanting to do it... and being willing to spend some extra nickels for a bit more aluminum and the stacked battery approach. Modern AAPL sure likes to squeeze OUT them nickels vs. adding them to cost-per-unit sold.

 

[urnotl33t]

No more rocking balance on the back either. Being caseless the rocking drives me crazy.

That’s reason #1 why I traded my iPhone 6S for iPhone SE (2016) which I still have today, and why I still have it today.

Reason #2: square edges because the rounded edges were stupid. Rounded offers no grip potential. Cases are a psychological trick put onto you by case makers to sell their wares. They put you into a victim mode, and rather successfully.

Reason #3: no stupid side button that clashed with the volume up button as a shutter during landscape videos. I shoot landscape like videos are intended, as many on this thread have said. Many times did I have my iPhone 6S go to sleep mode when my thumb was on the side button because of the phone size, shape, and orientation. It was the stupidest design they ever did. Still is today.

Reasons #4: 4” phone fits into my pocket, whereas the phablets do not.

Those above reasons are why I have refused to trade my SE for anything newer. I can’t get past those horrible design choices. Clearly I’m a minority, since they are still selling massive numbers of iPhones, but I see a growing minority over time. Many people still comment today on “wow, that really is the better size phone. I wish mine were that size. This one is too big.”

Apple can, and should, do better.

 

[JippaLippa]

Or just save your money and replace the battery, unless AI is a must for you.

I'm striking a good balance (in my opinion).
I make use of my devices for a while (4 years ain't too bad for a smartphone), but after a bit I'm curious to see the new updates.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

So basically, they're inverting the Nexus 6P

 

[urnotl33t]

Apple can certainly do it...

I don't recall many calling THAT iPhone "thick" or "onerous" back in the day. In fact, here's the numbers...

iPhone 5S thickness: 7.6mm
iPhone 15 thickness: 7.8mm
iPhone 15 Pro/Max: 8.25mm

Now, modern cameras are superior to that 5S camera, so if Apple tried to fit the modern camera into the 5S body, it would probably not win the "thin" contest. However, obviously, it doesn't have to be dramatically thicker either. If today's cameras work in up to 8.3mm thick cases, a modern day 5S thicker end at 8.3mm could accommodate it.

…

Of course, this depends on them wanting to do it... and being willing to spend some extra nickels for a bit more aluminum and the stacked battery approach. Modern AAPL sure likes to squeeze OUT them nickels vs. adding them to cost-per-unit sold.

Yep, and the SE (2016) was the same size, but has the 6S camera, which still does great photos AND 4K video if you need it. 4K at 30fps, but that’s still plenty.

 

[urnotl33t]

I shoot that way too because I know the end result is to watch on a landscape-oriented screen. However, so much video brought to me “to fix” (get rid of the big black blocks on the left & right) or so much video I casually see shot portrait but would have been better shot landscape is what this is about.

You and I have figured it out. Much of the world have locked in a habit of always shooting portrait. The potential change would be about THEM… not us. If this rumor is true about a change to the triangle, this would be a prime opportunity to finally address this.

Then we would have to change to holding the phone in portrait to capture landscape video, but we’re probably the easier segment to adapt.

Else, portrait video continues to pop up everywhere such as local news or in home movie footage, etc… almost all of which would be better captured in landscape.

If not this, how about a splash screen aiming to help so many others grasp that if they ultimately want to watch what they are about to shoot in landscape, ROTATE THE PHONE NOW!

I think the answer lies at a more deep psychological layer. People just don’t think about “Step 2” for anything anymore. They never consider “what comes next”. They only think in tunnels. “I’m going to watch this on my iPhone and I want it to fill the screen.” They don’t even seem to know to rotate the phone to watch an existing video. They’ll just watch it in portrait then complain about it.

It reminds me of the phenomenon discussed in the book “Scarcity” (a fantastic social science read, BTW). People only exist in the here-and-now while locked into their mental tunnels, forgetting the outside world until it becomes an emergency, then they borrow whatever resources (mental, financial, emotional) from the future to again satisfy the new tunnel-vision emergency. Lather, rinse, repeat. But they can’t escape this Mavity Well (oops, “gravity well”) because “planning” requires resources they don’t have because they borrowed against those resources earlier during the last tunneled emergency.

Think: “pay day loans”.

😕