TL; DR
- Naver user @yeux1122 has shared what appears to be an image of the iPhone 17 Pro’s unfinished chassis, likely the metal skeleton that’s underneath the aesthetic, matte-finish exterior of an iPhone.
- While you can look at the image shared by the tipster and think about whether you like the design or not, the Canadian smartphone case seller dbrand has already announced its Tank Case for the iPhone 17 Pro lineup.
- The iPhone 17 series could go official on September 9, 2025, and Apple could send out invites for the launch event in late August.
I’ve been writing about the iPhone 17 Pro leaks for a few months, low-key hoping that the ones about the redesign (with that gigantic camera bar at the back) aren’t true. But to my dismay, a tipster has shared what appears to be the image of the phone’s aluminum chassis.
While I could have passed the image as one that belongs to a production trial, the popular smartphone cases seller dbrand has announced a new Tank Case for the iPhone 17 lineup, and it also contains the same design cues, confirming the iPhone 17 Pro redesign.
With a heavy heart, let’s move forward and discuss what’s happening, what the iPhone 17 Pro will look like (for real), and why I don’t like how the handset’s appearance is shaping up.
Also Read: iPhone 17 Air To Get A Binned A19 Pro, iPhone 18 Could Feature Apple’s First 2nm Chip
iPhone 17 Pro’s Metal Skeleton Corroborates The Initial Redesign Renders
Naver user @yeux1122 has shared what appears to be an image of the iPhone 17 Pro’s unfinished chassis, likely the metal skeleton that’s underneath the aesthetic, matte-finish exterior of an iPhone.
The cutouts toward the top of the frame suggest that Apple might use an all-aluminum chassis, even for the raised camera module (which was previously made of glass). Toward the right of the module, we can see two cutouts for the flash and the LiDAR sensor.
While the iPhone 17 Pro could use aluminum for the top of its back panel and the side frames, the central portion, around the Apple logo, could house a thin sheet of glass, not just for aesthetics, but for enabling wireless charging. The arrows in the picture suggest the length and width of the glass plate.
Also Read: iPhone 17 Pro & iPhone 17 Pro Max Price: What To Expect?
dbrand’s Latest Tank Case Confirms It (Sort Of)
While you can look at the image shared by the tipster and think about whether you like the design or not, the Canadian smartphone case seller dbrand has already announced its Tank Case for the iPhone 17 Pro lineup, and it confirms the redesign.
As seen in the snapshots of the case, there’s a raised camera bar at the top of the phone (with three lenses toward the left and the flash/LiDAR sensor on the right), immediately followed by the circular ring-shaped design in the center (whether it supports MagSafe or not is still unclear), and a Camera Control button on the right frame.
Why I Don’t Like The iPhone 17 Pro’s Redesigned Back Panel
Alright, so it seems that all rumors were true after all. But on the face of it, a gigantic horizontal bar on the back panel, in my opinion, is not very Apple-like. None of the Apple iPhones released so far have featured such a design, and maybe that’s why it’s a bit heavy on the eyes.
It immediately reminds me of the Google Pixel phones, causing me to look confused and dismayed. But ultimately, it is about whether the design appeals to the brand’s target audience or not, and we don’t have to wait long to find out.
Also Read: 5 Features I Want to See in the iPhone 17 Pro
The iPhone 17 series could go official on September 9, 2025, and Apple could send out invites for the launch event in late August.
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