by Tim Hardwick
Seasoned leaker Sonny Dickson has shared more dummy models of Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 series, with the latest lot revealing a noticeable shift in Apple’s iPhone Pro model design that goes beyond the much-talked-about new rear camera bar.
Dickson points out that the iPhone 17 Pro dummy models feature an outlined area on the back, beginning just below the camera module and extending to the bottom of the chassis. Dickson says this is “where the glass will change.”
According to Chinese leaker Fixed Focus Digital, the iPhone 17 Pro models will use a combination of materials — specifically, a glass section for the logo area integrated into an overall metal chassis. This explains the red areas on the iPhone 17 Pro models we saw in a previous CAD image.
According to The Information, Apple has chosen a half glass, half aluminum build for its high-end devices to increase durability. The glass would allow wireless charging to continue to be available, but a partial aluminum frame would be less prone to breakage.
Apple’s current iPhone 16 Pro models feature a titanium chassis – a change Apple touted as a key upgrade when it debuted with 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.
Consistent with rumors and previous CAD images, the dummies depict Apple’s embrace of an elongated horizontal camera module along the top of the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models and the iPhone 17 Air, but not on the regular model. The dummies also appear to have a smoother transition between the edges of the camera bump and the back cover, reportedly owing to Apple’s use of a new glass-and-metal splicing material process.
Today’s dummies also indicate that all iPhone 17 models – including the all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air – will feature MagSafe. The new design will constitute one of the most significant visual changes to Apple’s high-end iPhone models in recent years. The new lineup is expected to arrive in September.
Popular Stories
Apple Says iPhone Driver’s Licenses Coming to These 8 U.S. States, But Rollout Remains Slow
Wednesday March 19, 2025 6:55 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver’s license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly. It has been three and a half years since Apple first announced the…
iOS 19 to Have Some of the ‘Biggest’ Design Changes in iPhone’s History
Apple is planning some of the “biggest iOS and macOS redesigns in its history,” according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman reiterated that iOS 19 will have a visionOS-like design with more transparent interfaces:The new interfaces will adopt the design principles introduced in visionOS, the software for Apple’s Vision Pro headset. That includes greater…
Next Year’s iPhone 18 Pro Already Rumored to Have Five New Features
While the iPhone 18 Pro models are still around a year and a half away from launching, there are already some early rumors about the devices. Below, we recap some key iPhone 18 Pro rumors so far. Under-Screen Face ID In April 2023, display industry analyst Ross Young shared a roadmap showing that iPhone 17 Pro models would feature under-display Face ID. In May 2024, however, Young said …
Apple’s First Foldable iPhone Estimated to Cost Nearly Twice as Much as iPhone 16 Pro Max
In an investor research note today with British bank Barclays, analyst Tim Long said Apple’s first foldable iPhone could have a starting price in the $2,300 range in the United States, which would make it by far the most expensive iPhone model ever. If the first foldable iPhone starts at $2,299, that means it would cost nearly twice as much as the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which starts at $1,199. …
Apple Canned Larger iPhone 17 Air Model Over Fears of Bendgate 2.0
Monday March 17, 2025 4:07 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple prototyped a larger ultra-slim iPhone 17 Air with a 6.9-inch display, but ultimately decided not to go ahead with the device because of fears that it could be susceptible to bending, according to a new report. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, writing in his latest Power On newsletter: When it first started work on the phone, it prototyped a device with a 6.9-inch screen — matching…
All Four iPhone 17 Models Rumored to Feature Upgraded 24-Megapixel Front Camera and More
All four iPhone 17 models launching later this year will feature an upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing camera, according to analyst Jeff Pu. In a research note today with investment firm GF Securities, Pu shared a chart in which he reiterated that the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with a 24-megapixel front camera. By comparison, all four …
iOS 18.3.2 Broke iCloud Mail Delivery
Monday March 17, 2025 3:31 pm PDT by Juli Clover
The iOS 18.3.2 update that Apple released last week appears to have broken iCloud Mail for some users. There are multiple complaints on Reddit and the MacRumors forums from users who say that iCloud Mail is not able to push new iCloud emails to their iPhones after the iOS 18.3.2 update. Affected users say that despite having the correct settings enabled, new iCloud emails are not showing up…
First iPhone 17 Air Case Has Camera Bar, Camera Control Button Cutouts
Wednesday March 19, 2025 5:29 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Serial leaker Sonny Dickson today shared an image of what he claims is a first look at a third-party case for Apple’s iPhone 17 Air. “If you didn’t know an Air was coming, you’d swear it was a Google Pixel case,” he said. Case manufacturers often obtain design specifications of upcoming iPhone models before their release by collaborating with Apple through official partnerships or…
