iPhone 17 Series Leaked Renders Reveal Bold New Camera Bar Design

The iPhone 17 series is still months away from its official launch, but leaks and rumors have already started surfacing, giving us an idea of what Apple has lined up for us. The new lineup promises to make some big changes, including potentially substituting the "Plus" version with a new "Slim/Air" version. But the largest highlight appears to be a significant design change, most notably in the camera module. Here's all that we know till now.

iPhone 17 Series

Apple is said to be bringing a significant shake-up to its line by ending the "Plus" model and unveiling a "Slim" or "Air" variant. As information on this new variant is limited, speculation points to the fact that it might have a slimmer and lighter build, with the potential of appealing to customers who desire a smaller yet powerful iPhone. Some sources have suggested that the "Air" version could also utilize a slightly variant camera configuration from the base model, with an emphasis on portability without sacrificing performance.

iPhone 17 Design

New Horizontal Camera Bar

As per a recent post by DigitalChatStation on Weibo, iPhone 17 series, at least the Slim model, will feature an entirely different camera design. The renders point towards a Pixel-like horizontal camera bar at the top of the rear panel. This is quite different from Apple's existing square-shaped camera module at the top left corner. The new design might give iPhones a new look and make them stand out from earlier designs.

Adding further legitimacy to this rumor, another Weibo user, 'Schrodinger's English short coo' (trans.), posted what was claimed to be an iPhone 17 frame that also showcased a horizontal camera module. From the post, the ultra-wide-angle lens is said to be centered to have room for the front structured light, perhaps even pointing towards an enhanced Face ID sensor.

iPhone 17 Pro Design Updates

Renowned tipster Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech has shed more light on the iPhone 17 Pro design. In his latest YouTube video, he says that the Pro version will have a big camera bar design, akin to the concept renders leaked before but a little taller. Even with this huge change, the camera lens configuration inside the bar will be similar to past iPhone Pro models, with a triangular setup. Conversely, previous renders had indicated that the lenses of the camera would be horizontally placed.

Prosser points out that a horizontal design is impossible given the internal room needed to house other parts like the Dynamic Island. The triple camera sensors, therefore, take up residence in the left edge of the camera bar, with the LED flash, microphone, and LiDAR scanner sitting on the right side. The iPhone 17 Pro will also come with a dual-tone color, in which the massive camera bar will have a darker tone than the rest of the phone's rear panel.

Lighter Build with Aluminum or Titanium?

Apple is likely to make the next iPhones lighter, but it is unknown if they will be made of aluminum or titanium. The use of titanium in the iPhone 15 Pro line was a major change, but there are some rumors that Apple may go back to using aluminum. Because Apple has not said anything about it, we have to wait and see what the next news will bring us about which material they will use. Other analysts think Apple could unveil a hybrid material strategy, employing titanium for strength and aluminum to save weight.

Standard iPhone 17 Design Tipped

In another leak, tipster Majin Bu has shared new information regarding the design of the standard iPhone 17. In his opinion, the camera module of the iPhone 17 will be thicker than that of the Air model, which was observed in earlier leaks.

The supposed iPhone 17 Air render showed a single camera sensor with a rounded rectangular module at the top of the rear panel. Majin further reports that the ultra-wide and main cameras in the base model have been reversed, and the smaller ultra-wide lens may be hidden under the Dynamic Island components. This design may translate to better camera performance while having a sleeker form factor.

Leaked Renders of iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro

Standard iPhone 17 Render Leak

A render of the iPhone 17, posted by X (previously Twitter) user @MajinBuOfficial, implies that Apple may once again play with the camera design. The leak features a horizontally placed dual-camera setup on a width-spanning camera bar. This is yet another major design change since Apple recently transitioned to a vertical camera arrangement for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.

The camera bar is also visible in a darker hue, which stands out against the white colorway of the leaked render. This could mean that the camera strip will be one solid color for all iPhone 17 models. Moreover, it has been rumored that Apple would add new color options for the iPhone 17 series, and among these rumored colors is possibly a matte finish for the Pro models.

iPhone 17 Pro Render Leak

On a video by Jon Prosser's FrontPageTech, the iPhone 17 Pro is shown with the same long camera bar as the base model. Unlike previous rumors proposing a horizontal alignment of the cameras for the Pro models, the renders show a design that bears a close resemblance to the iPhone 16 Pro. The LED flash is placed at the right side of the camera bar.

Smaller Dynamic Island for Pro Max?

Rumors state that the iPhone 17 Pro Max may have a reduced Dynamic Island. This might signify that Apple has invented a method to reduce the Face ID sensor area, making the screen-to-body ratio even better. A smaller notch would enhance the immersive experience for users and provide space for improved display features. Some rumors propose that Apple is developing an under-display Face ID, which could be introduced in the future.

Apple's ongoing emphasis on innovation guarantees each iPhone iteration comes with something unique to the lineup. If what has been leaked is true, the iPhone 17 lineup would be one of the largest changes in years for the iPhone line. The camera redesign, bringing in a Slim/Air design, and altering materials would recast the iPhone experience.

Expected Launch Timeline

Going by Apple's past release schedules, the iPhone 17 series should come out in September this year. As the launch nears, we should get more leaks and rumors to shed more light on Apple's final design decisions and hardware improvements. Pre-orders should start soon after the announcement, with availability to roll out in phases in different regions, according to analysts.

We should take these leaks with a grain of salt since Apple's plans may still be subject to change before the actual release. We have months to go before the iPhone 17 series arrives, and we can expect more to come out in the meantime. For now, these leaks give us a thrilling glimpse of what could be Apple's most extreme iPhone overhaul ever. Keep watching for further updates as we get closer the iPhone 17 release!