'iPhone 17 Slim' Could Move Rear Cameras to Top Center in Biggest Redesign Since iPhone X

[syklee26]

More expensive but uses aluminum instead of titanium? Pass.

 

[Surf Monkey]

You’re still missing the point. I get that the DI “does stuff”, but it’s stuff the notch could have done had it been programmed to do so.

Even that would need a UI. So no different than the DI at all.

If the DI wants to show an icon, it animates/grows/expands a black section out to the side and shows the icon. There is zero reason why the notch couldn’t have expanded sideways in the same manner and done exactly the same.

Of course. But when the DI is inactive its UI disappears.

The software that makes the DI more than “2 holes with a bit of black screen between them” could have equally done the same for the notch which is “2 holes with a bit of black plastic between them”.

To what end? Getting back a couple of millimeters of screen on top? And sacrifice some percentage of usability in the process? I mean, why is this so grippingly important to you? Do you not grasp that positioning of the element is partly a UI consideration? That the amount of screen it uses is mitigated by the usefulness of the island?

It just seems like a pretty low hill to die on.

 

[Surf Monkey]

it’s nice to have the option to put the camera lens directly on the ground since the lens are on the side.

Agree. I have lots of cameras of all kinds but none of them can capture that viewpoint but iPhone. I use it for that a lot. You can achieve some very striking photos with the lens that close to the ground.

 

[kerr]

A higher price tag than the Pro Max model in the iPhone lineup

No one is surprised that Apple are not happy enough with people buying the Pro Max. So much focus at the top end, with little to no attention at the low end.

 

[WilliApple]

Here u go!

 

[bluespark]

I just want the camera bump gone. I miss having a phone with a flush back!

iPads, too. I know almost no one who uses the iPad camera for anything other than a quick document scan or QR code, so it would be great to sacrifice that bump.

 

[bluespark]

They will get my money with thinner. Current iPhones are far too thick for my taste.

 

[StoneJack]

Its time to diversify the offerings.
Fold and Surface duo-like iPhones would be also nice to have.

 

[Scottsoapbox]

If the Slim is above the Pro Max is it really the Max Pro anymore?

 

[Scottsoapbox]

The 6.1” Pro is a pretty dainty phone, have you held one? It’s the size of the 11 Pro with it’s 5.8” screen, I don’t really remember anyone complaining that that one was too big

Except the millions that bought the Mini.

 

[Bjojade]

The size and shape of the original iPhone is STILl by far the most comfortable. Giant phones suck.

 

[Bjojade]

And the original phone was comfortable to carry without a case! Now, not so much.

 

[gaximus]

Yep. And I’ve always found it annoying that 1) the phone doesn’t sit flat on a table, it wobbles around because of the corner lenses. Less of an issue with cases but still annoying.

And 2) you can accidentally put your fingers over the lenses when taking pics, especially if holding with left hand.

Both of these issues would be mitigated with centred camera lenses.

That depends on how they center it, if they center it at the top of the phone, then yes. But if they go too symmetrical and try to put it the middle (unlikely thats where they Apple logo goes). Then it would be way worse.

unless they make an apple shaped lens, which would be some cool bokeh’s.

 

[v0lume4]

Yep. The placement of the camera has always felt strange to me, I figured it was because of space constraints.

Regarding space constraints, I used to think that too, until Samsung started showing everyone up with basically no camera bump, even on their smallest phone. So it can be done. Kudos to Samsung’s design department on that one.

The sleekness of this design is undeniable.

 

[peneaux]

The iPhone X was a big upgrade because the screen gained a lot of space.

To use camera in the middle as an upgrade is lame.
Making it thinner is an upgrade. Titanium to aluminum is downgrade.

 

[t0rqx]

This is BETA / testing the waters for sure.

 

[t0rqx]

I don't understand how the iPhone Slim can have it at the center if the iPhone Fat can't.

They will remove or downgrade components to make space. They did that with all their new products. Its how it keeps the profit revenue going.

 

[Sami13496]

Remember when MacBook Air first launched it was very expensive despite having weaker tech specs. It was priced that way because it was super thin and portable. This “Slim” could actually be “Air”.

Also there are users who don’t need all that camera gear and thickness of the Pro (Max) but would appreciate thin, light and premium device. I bet despite camera being Pro’s headlining feature only some people really utilize it really. Most buy Pro for it’s premiumness.

 

[transpo1]

You’re still missing the point. I get that the DI “does stuff”, but it’s stuff the notch could have done had it been programmed to do so. If the DI wants to show an icon, it animates/grows/expands a black section out to the side and shows the icon. There is zero reason why the notch couldn’t have expanded sideways in the same manner and done exactly the same. The software that makes the DI more than “2 holes with a bit of black screen between them” could have equally done the same for the notch which is “2 holes with a bit of black plastic between them”.

Not really.

1) Judging by the way the DI UI animates, I’m guessing there’s a legitimate engineering/software reason they had to move it away from the edge.

2) They probably wanted to move it in order to place the cameras where these elements will eventually be placed when invisible under the display— again, iterative design over the course of iPhone generations to slowly move us towards a full screen.

3) Don’t forget, they had the phone speaker in the notch as well and likely had to separate it from the DI for the same engineering reasons.

This stuff may seem easy but rearranging all those components inside is difficult. Otherwise, it would be easy to do an edge-to-edge display on the iPhone, which they still have not truly done.

 

[Sami13496]

If the Slim is above the Pro Max is it really the Max Pro anymore?

It won’t necessarily be ‘above’. It might be just another branch of design catered to those who want elegant slim device and don’t need Pro (Max) camera (most people don’t).

 

[Kulfon]

And it is still the same iPhone. Just packaged differently.

 

[taliz]

iPads, too. I know almost no one who uses the iPad camera for anything other than a quick document scan or QR code, so it would be great to sacrifice that bump.

There's no bump on my iPad 9th gen, wasnt any on my 5th gen either.

 

[taliz]

Apple desperately needs to launch cheaper iPhones, not even more expensive ones.
Declining sales show people just can't afford them anymore.
I've been waiting for almost 6 years now to replace my XR. Looks like I might have to start browsing the used market instead of buying new.

 

[Le0M]

too thin for a USB-C port so portless phone

Liquid Metal!! That's how Apple called it internally.
What happened to it?

 

[allenvanhellen]

I predict this will be a folding phone. There will be a camera ridge along the top of the rear edge. The bottom of the screen will fold around the back, so that at least half of the screen is always visible, whether folded or opened.