The rumour mill is churning again and in full swing. With the iPhone 17 set to be released in September this year, rumours abound about what we can expect, with some of the specs – if true – being particularly discussion-worthy. Especially when it comes to the iPhone 17 Pro.
According to a few reports, for instance, the iPhone 17 Pro is going to have a slightly thicker design, allowing for a larger battery that can withstand heavy usage throughout the day.
As well as this, it’s also expected to come with Apple’s next-generation A19 Pro chip, which will reportedly be manufactured with TSMC’s newer third-generation 3nm process, and all four iPhone 17 models will be fitted with Apple’s own Wi-Fi 7 chip, allowing users to experience faster, more reliable wireless connections, perfect for playing online games or streaming content – which is becoming far more common due to the rise of mobile gaming and video consumption on the go.
But while all these specs are very exciting, there is one particular spec that everyone is talking about: what exactly is the iPhone 17 Pro going to look like? While the iPhone 16 seemed to lay down a new chart for the future of Apple – embracing slimmer bezels and a sleek, lightweight design – there are rumours that the iPhone 17 Pro will take a different approach, changing the course of Apple yet again with something far more innovative.
The Design Trend of iPhone 16
Before we get into the rumoured iPhone 17 Pro design, however, let’s take a look at what Apple did with iPhone 16. One of the biggest design changes in this device was definitely the camera, which received a significant upgrade both in terms of hardware and layout.
Rather than the bulky, square camera module Apple had adopted for iPhone 14, 15, and their latest iPads, the iPhone 16 introduced a more compact and streamlined camera, reducing the camera bump or giving the phone a sleeker profile – while still improving photo or video capabilities. Additionally, the iPhone 16 also featured a slightly smaller notch and, as we mentioned previously, worked towards a slimmer, sleek design that felt far more road-ready for daily use.
The Rumoured Design for iPhone 17 Pro
No one would have been surprised if Apple continued that design trend for the iPhone 17, but if the rumours are to be believed, it looks like they’re going in a vastly different direction. Instead of the slim, vertical camera bump, for instance, the iPhone 17 Pro will instead have a horizontally aligned, full-width camera bar, reminiscent of the Google Pixel design over the last few years. This ‘visor’ would span the top portion of the device, integrating the camera lens, flash, microphone, and LiDAR sensor into a unified module.
The iPhone 17 Pro is also reported to be far thicker than what we’re used to. This is probably to facilitate the inclusion of a larger battery we mentioned earlier, meaning users don’t have to consistently maintain their iPhone battery health, but it’s going to be a seismic change either way. Although exact specs aren’t known, it could be that the iPhone 17 Pro reaches a thickness of around 8.33mm, and although this doesn’t sound like much, believe us when we say it will feel a lot different in-hand compared to the 7.8mm thickness of the iPhone 16.
Conclusion
It’s important to reiterate that these are all just rumours, but when it comes to the camera, specifically, the sources seem reliable, and so it wouldn’t be a surprise if this design shakeup is revealed upon launch. As for why Apple has decided to change tack, this isn’t exactly clear. As always, we’re all just going to have to wait for the reaction to see if it works!
