Apple is expected to launch the iPhone SE 4 next week, which will bring major design changes to the 'SE' lineup. It now appears that the standard iPhone 17 will also come with a handful of design variations similar to the iPhone 17 Pro models, at least from the back of the device. A tipster has shared that the camera module of the iPhone 17 will be different than that of the current models and will be enclosed in a black housing similar to the Google Pixel lineup.
iPhone 17 will keep up with the iPhone 17 Pro models in terms of design with a smaller black bar like the Google Pixel lineup
It was previously reported that the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro models will feature the same external design as the current models, suggesting that the company will rock the same look for another year. However, the iPhone 16's tanking sales could have given the company jitters, as it has potentially changed its plans to redesign the iPhone 17 models.
Apple has been using the same iPhone design for years now, but it appears that it is likely to deviate from its safe ground. According to Majin Bu on X, the company will change the iPhone 17 design from the back with a shift in the camera layout compared to the current models. He also shared an image of what appears to be the design that users should be looking forward to, and, to be fair, it keeps up with the design esthetics of the iPhone 17 Pro models.
The iPhone 17 Pro is also expected to adopt the new design, but unlike the base models, the 'Pro' models will not change the camera layout. This means that the device will still feature a triple camera solution in the old triangular fashion but with an elongated module taking the top spot on the back.
The tipster also notes that the camera module on the base version of the iPhone 17 will be "wider than that of the Air version with a single camera." Moreover, the camera module on the iPhone 17 Air will also be a bit rectangular compared to the iPhone 17. He further denotes that the main and the ultra-wide cameras on the iPhone 17 have been swapped. This switching of the cameras is because the smaller ultra-wide sensor could easily fit behind the Dynamic Island components.
We have to note that it is too early to draw conclusions related to the design of the iPhone 17, as the company could choose a simpler route and opt for a design that is more or less the same as the current models. However, Apple desperately needs to change the design of the next iPhone if it wants to bring innovation to the lineup.
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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