Apple has big plans for the iPhone 17 lineup this year, as it is working to launch an entirely new model with an ultra-thin form factor and a brand-new camera bar design. The device will take the place of the 'Plus' models in the lineup and could be priced similarly, but it remains to be seen how it will stack up against the 'Pro' models. Corroborating earlier reports and rumors, a tipster has shared the first iPhone 17 Air case, which shows the Camera Bar and the Camera Control Button cutouts.
iPhone 17 Air adopts a Pixel-inspired ultra-thin design with a Camera Bar and Camera Control button
The iPhone 17 Air is shaping up to be a very promising device, and Samsung has already begun its pursuit of competing against Apple's ultra-thin version of the iPhone with its own Galaxy Edge. Today's leak comes from Sonny Dickson on X, who shared an image of the case responding to the dimensions of the iPhone 17 Air. Case manufacturers often receive the dimensions of an unreleased iPhone before the device sees daylight, giving them time to manufacture third-party accessories.
Sometimes, these third-party manufacturers receive information through partnerships with the company, while other times, they conduct research at production facilities, giving them an idea of the design. As per the latest leaked image of the iPhone 17 Air case, the design is pretty similar to what we have already seen, featuring major changes on the back of the device.
As seen in the leaked image of the iPhone 17 Air case, the camera bar is quite pronounced and runs horizontally across the top of the device from one side to the other. The camera bar will protrude outside the chassis, similar to the Google Pixel 9 Pro models, and will house all the necessary sensors, including a single-lens camera, an LED flash, and a microphone. Unlike the iPhone 17 Pro models, the 'Air' will lack a LiDAR scanner and two additional cameras. We believe the 'Air' will house the same Fusion Camera as the iPhone 16e.
Apart from the camera bar, the leaked image also showcases a Camera Control Button cutout, which will allow the device to be in line with the rest of the lineup. Currently, the only device that does not feature Camera Control is the iPhone 16e, but this could change with future versions of the handset. The rest of the design is pretty standard, with an Action Button on the opposite side along with the volume rockers. We will share additional details on the iPhone 17 Air design, so be sure to stick around.
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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