We haven’t dabbled in Apple rumors—specifically the iPhones—since the iPhone 12 because, let’s face it, every new release has been predictable. “The most powerful iPhone yet,” “best camera ever,” rinse and repeat. Oh, and the design? Copy-paste with a sprinkle of camera shuffle. Even Steve Jobs might’ve yawned.
But hold on to your lightning cables (or now, USB-C cables), because we’re back in the game for the iPhone 17, and the Internet whispers are spicy. Word on the (digital) street is that the next iPhone will feature a drastically different design. Forget the camera rearrangements that have bored us to tears—this one’s an overhaul. Think Samsung Galaxy meets Google Pixel. Some folks are calling it ugly, but I say it’s the kind of ugly that grows on you, like Crocs or certain cat memes.
We spotted some renders on a Chinese micro-blogging website, Weibo (which I have no doubt were all pulled from prominent leakers from the West), and these designs are intriguing. If legit, Apple’s ditching its corner camera module for a Pixel 9-style camera bar. But Apple being Apple, there’s a twist. The rumored iPhone 17 has individual camera modules atop the bar, à la Samsung Galaxy S24 or Meizu 21 Pro. Meanwhile, the 17 Pro Max allegedly embeds its cameras under a dark glass panel within the bar itself. Fancy.
Both designs also sport a duo-finish back cover, marking a departure from Apple’s usual minimalist aesthetic. It’s a bold move, but hey, boldness is refreshing after years of playing it safe.
So, what do you think? Are these leaks credible, and if they are, does this design shake things up for the better? Or are we just trading one rectangular slab for another, albeit with a bar across its back? Let the debates begin.
