Ditch That Meme! Apple Could Redesign the iPhone 17 Pro Series

It’s September 2019 and you're watching the iPhone 11 Pro getting unveiled with a new design compared to its predecessor. Fast forward to the following year and Apple uses the same design for the iPhone 12 Pro and again for the iPhone 13 Pro.

You start feeling off about this design but then Apple uses the same look for the iPhone 14 Pro, 15 Pro, and the recently launched 16 Pro. Three generations of the most expensive iPhone look so similar that it would be hard to distinguish between them in a public place.

But this could change with the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro series. Apple fans have been waiting for a design refresh for five years and this year, the Cupertino-based tech giant may finally fulfil their wishes.

According to a report by The Information, the brand is reportedly ditching its squarish camera bump in favour of a rectangular one. Sadly, this means we might have to retire the annual meme of an old man holding the same shirt he's wearing.

Anyway, let’s get back to the topic. Here’s what we know about the iPhone 17 Pro series.

Major redesign in the iPhone 17 Pro models

Apple reportedly has some big plans for the iPhone 17 Pro series. The company is planning to introduce cosmetic changes to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. The top half of these devices will feature a rectangular camera island, which might be thicker than the iPhone 16 Pro’s camera bump. This camera island will be made of an aluminium frame instead of glass.

Umm, Pixel 9 Pro?

If true, this could be another iPhone X-like moment. The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max might also feature thinner bezels and a smaller notch for Dynamic Island and the front sensor.

Apple is reportedly working on a major redesign for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max ‼️

- Aluminum frame instead of Titanium
- Larger rectangular camera bump made of aluminum instead of glass
- Bottom half remains glass for wireless charging

Source: @theinformation pic.twitter.com/tg1M8XnOT2

— Apple Hub (@theapplehub) November 25, 2024

If this happens, we’ll finally be able to distinguish the iPhone 17 Pro from previous models easily. Thanks, Apple!

We’ll have to wait until next year to know if this report is true. The iPhone 17 series is expected to launch in September 2025.

Remember that Titanium shining? It’s going back

Apple sparked a revolution when it ditched aluminium for titanium with the iPhone 15 Pro series. This move forced major Android brands, including Samsung and Xiaomi, to also incorporate titanium into their smartphones, like the Galaxy S24 Ultra and Xiaomi 14, respectively.

However, it is now being reported that Apple is taking a U-turn and returning to aluminium for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. This means that all four iPhone 17 Series devices will be made of aluminium.

But here’s the catch: Apple will use both aluminium and glass on the rear frame of the iPhone 17 Pro series. The top half of the devices will feature an aluminium frame while the lower half will be made of glass to support wireless charging. It might even have a dual-tone design.

ALSO READ: iPhone 15 Long Term Review: Now the Best VFM Smartphone In 2024!

iPhone 17 air might shock the industry

The Information has reported two major changes that might come to the iPhone 17 Air. It will be Apple’s slimmest phone and will debut alongside the iPhone 17 Series.

Apple had originally planned to keep the thickness around 6mm but according to a Korean media outlet, the company was finding it difficult to achieve due to the thickness of the battery.

However, The Information has contradicted that report, saying that Apple might still manage to make the phone even thinner. 

To achieve this, Apple is reportedly ditching the physical SIM tray on the iPhone 17 Air, making it available only in the eSIM variant. This isn't new, as Apple has been selling eSIM-only iPhones in various countries, including the US.

For this, Apple will use a custom modem which would lack support for mmWave 5G networks. In layman's terms, this means you’d miss out on high-speed internet in public or crowded places.

This would be interesting to see as Samsung is also gearing up to launch a Galaxy S25 Slim in 2025.