The iPhone 17 series, set to arrive next fall, is expected to bring major design updates across all models. Recent leaks about the slim iPhone 17 Air suggest it will have a unique look, setting it apart from previous iPhones. New details also hint at design changes for the Pro models.
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Interestingly enough, claims in The Information suggest Apple may abandon titanium for the Pro models and instead introduce aluminum frames to the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max. The titanium found in the Pro models first appeared with the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, and these aluminum frames would replace stainless steel for older models, thus changing material composition.
Another rumored update includes the design of the back on Pro models. According to reports, the top half of the back will be bigger rectangular aluminum camera bump while the bottom half is still glass for wireless charging support. That would mean an end to the full 3D glass backs in use and instead a combination of both aluminum and glass. It would make Pro models very identifiable if it happens.
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However, such a change would question the company’s commitment to elegant, seamless designs. Two materials, aluminum and glass, might be too difficult to balance without aesthetic sacrifice. The new design is also somewhat similar to the first iPhone in 2007, which combined aluminum with plastic. It was functional but far from the modern polished industrial designs.
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It’s unclear whether the camera panel’s shape will also change. Currently, the camera bump is rectangular with a squarish design. Switching to aluminum could make it more prominent. Maintaining the glass bottom half for wireless charging functionality ensures practicality, but it raises questions about visual consistency.
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These reported changes indicate that Apple is trying bold new things, but it remains to be seen how some people react. Aluminum may seem like a retrograde step, as if the company were stepping back on the introduction of titanium only recently. Yet, these design decisions would likely have been finalized or nearing such a point for the iPhone 17 series at its final stages of development.
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Whether or not these leaks are true, the hysteria for iPhone 17 lineup is undeniable. The timeline of innovation brought forward by Apple keeps fans excitedly looking forward to the next generation of devices.
