For months, we've had leaks claiming there will be a new design this time around with the iPhone 17 models. At the time, I was hesitant to believe it, as it seemed a huge departure from what Apple had been doing so far with iPhone design, but on September 9, during the Apple Event, we all saw that it was, indeed, true.
There's a new super-slim model, the iPhone Air, which features a Pixel-like 'camera bar' on the back. The Pro-branded iPhone 17 models now have a huge camera island on the back and an entirely new design. And that's, well, different.
iPhone 17 Pro: what does this new design achieve?
The new camera bump look. | Image Credit - Apple
Apple claims it's not just about looks when it comes to the new way the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max look from the back. Now, there's an aluminum unibody, Ceramic Shield on the back in the one section not covered by aluminum, and this new camera island.
First off, the aluminum unibody, according to Apple, has been chosen as a design element for its lightness, thermal efficiency, and rigidity. The new A19 Pro chip and the huge battery all need good thermal dissipation, and the aluminum unibody, Apple says, does that really well. Meanwhile, it's thin, so it makes space for the big batteries Apple has equipped the Pro models with this time around.
The iPhone 17 Pro's aluminum unibody and Ceramic Shield on the back. | Image Credit - Apple
As for the camera island, well, yes, it's huge. Apple claims this is done so the new Pro camera system can fit. Especially, more space is needed for the new 48MP Fusion telephoto camera that the iPhone 17 Pro rocks. This new camera allows for 8x zoom at 200mm in optical quality, which is indeed exceptional.
All in all, the new design of the Pro and Pro Max, as the Cupertino company says, is made so that the performance is maximized. Thanks to the new powerful chip and all these design changes to ensure durability, bigger battery, better telephoto, and heat dissipation, the iPhone 17 Pro may indeed be one phone not to be underestimated. Unfortunately, its elegance has slightly suffered...
iPhone Air: thin design and somewhat big camera bump
The iPhone Air. | Image Credit - Apple
The iPhone Air is Apple's answer to the Galaxy S25 Edge. It's an entirely new model in the iPhone series, sporting a slim body, Ceramic Shield on the back for improved scratch and crack resistance, and a 'camera bar'. Yep, that one's a 'camera bar' despite Apple calling it a 'new plateau'.
The iPhone Air's 'plateau'. | Image Credit - Apple
The plateau houses the camera system, but also the speaker and the processor of the phone. All of this is made so that Apple can fit a bigger battery in this thin design. Of course, if you want to make a super-thin phone, you'll have to make compromises, and in this case, not even Apple can save itself from the struggles of not having enough space for its battery.
Recommended Stories
But yep, the design is such that Apple can achieve the incredible thinness of just 5.6mm and the new look of a super-slim, elegant iPhone Air. We'll know soon if those decisions were worth it.
My take: the iPhone 17 Pro is fine, the Air is in trouble
The iPhone 17 Pro. | Image Credit - Apple
At first, when the rumors started, my reaction was a knee-jerk one. This huge 'camera island' on the back of the Pro-branded models didn't sit right with me to the point I refused to believe it all the way until the Apple Event. And a part of me still doesn't believe it.
But honestly, when it comes to the Pro at least, I feel like I may have overreacted. Yep, it's not exactly pretty, but it is fine for what it achieves, especially with the advanced zoom. The Cosmic Orange color also saves things, because it's such a cool color that it almost makes me forget about the camera bar, well, radio station, on the back. I also appreciate a bigger battery, definitely.
Are you likely to accept the iPhone 17 Pro and Air new designs?
I can live with the Pro, the Air - not so much.
13.79%
iPhone 17 Pro's new design rocks!
19.54%
I like the Air more.
19.54%
I don't like either, not upgrading this year.
29.89%
Give me the base iPhone 17!
17.24%
As for the Air, that's where I seem not to be exactly thrilled. Yep, it's elegant in terms of thinness and colors. But the camera bar doesn't convince me of elegance whatsoever, and the fact that the Air's battery life is an 'all-day' battery life (which, frankly, means nothing really, as different users spend different amounts of time on their phones) is enough to make me seriously hesitate about this phone.
All in all, I think the design of these iPhones is unusual, but I don't think that it's exactly 'ugly' anymore. I like that Apple has done it to achieve real benefits, not just for the sake of being different, especially with the Pro models. The Air, well, we'll see what its fate will be, and whether it will be the same as the iPhone mini's fate.
"Iconic Phones" is coming this Fall!
Rediscover some of the most unique and memorable phones of the last two decades! "Iconic Phones" is a beautifully illustrated book that we've been working on for over a year - and it's coming out in just a couple short month!
"Iconic Phones: Revolution at Your Fingertips" is a must-have coffee table book for every phone lover out there. Covering the stories of more than 20 fan-favorite phones, it takes you on a memorable journey through the technological revolution that shaped our lives. Sign up now to secure an early discount price!
Izzy, a tech enthusiast and a key part of the PhoneArena team, specializes in delivering the latest mobile tech news and finding the best tech deals. Her interests extend to cybersecurity, phone design innovations, and camera capabilities. Outside her professional life, Izzy, a literature master's degree holder, enjoys reading, painting, and learning languages. She's also a personal growth advocate, believing in the power of experience and gratitude. Whether it's walking her Chihuahua or singing her heart out, Izzy embraces life with passion and curiosity.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: