The design of this year’s next-generation iPhone 17 will allegedly feature a smoother transition between the edges of the device and the back cover, owing to Apple’s use of a new glass-and-metal splicing material process. That’s according to the Weibo-based leaker Fixed Focus Digital.
In a post on Monday, the Chinese leaker claimed that suppliers say the iPhone 17 is adopting a “process overhaul,” suggesting that Apple has developed new manufacturing techniques to create smoother transitions between different materials. “The key point is that the connection area between the body’s deco and the back cover is a slope rather than a step,” said the leaker, based on a machine translation. Deco in this context likely refers to the aesthetic transition between materials – or how the glass back meets the aluminum frame.
For the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple is allegedly planning to eliminate the titanium frame, instead going back to aluminum. Along with an aluminum frame, the iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to include a half-aluminum, half-glass backing, rather than an all-glass back. The top half of the back will be made from aluminum, while the bottom half will continue to be made from glass to support wireless charging functionality.
It’s unclear whether Fixed Focus Digital is referring specifically to the iPhone 17 Pro models or the iPhone 17 series per se. Less is known about the design of the standard iPhone 17 model, while the Plus model is expected to be replaced by an iPhone 17 “Air” featuring a completely new slimmer design.
On the iPhone 17 Pro models, Apple is also believed to be planning for a larger “rectangular” camera bump that is made from aluminum rather than glass. Supply chain leaks have backed up a report by The Information about a camera design change. Leaks coming out of China suggest that the module is an “elongated oval shape,” rather than a rectangular shape. The iPhone 17 series is expected to arrive around the usual mid-September time frame.
Last week, the account Fixed Focus Digital claimed that the fourth-generation iPhone SE will be named the iPhone 16E, echoing claims from other sources.
Popular Stories
Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver’s Licenses to These 7 U.S. States
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver’s license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Below, we outline which U.S. states and territories offer the feature, and additional states that have committed to rolling it out in…
New MacBook Air Models Coming Soon With These Rumored Features
One of Apple’s first product announcements of 2025 will likely be updated 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M4 chip. Below, we recap rumors about the next MacBook Air models. New Features Expected The new MacBook Air models are expected to be equipped with Apple’s already-released M4 chip, which has a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. Apple already updated the MacBook…
iPhone 17 Air’s Thickness and Price Range Revealed in New Report
Apple is widely rumored to be planning an ultra-thin iPhone 17 model for release later this year, and a new report offers a few purported details. South Korea’s Sisa Journal today reported that Apple is aiming for the so-called “iPhone 17 Air” to be 6.25mm thick. If that measurement ends up being accurate, the device would become the thinnest iPhone ever, topping the current 6.9mm record set …
Here’s What’s New in iOS 18.3 So Far
iOS 18.3 is currently in beta for developers and public beta testers. So far, the upcoming iPhone software update is very minor in scope. Below, we outline what is new in iOS 18.3 so far. The only potential new feature coming to iPhones with iOS 18.3 so far is robot vacuum support in the Home app, but this functionality is not yet live. Apple is laying the groundwork for the feature,…
Here’s What’s Changing With Siri in 2025
Apple started making Siri more capable with Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2, but there are additional Siri updates that are set to come in 2025 with iOS 18 and iOS 19. By this time next year, Siri should be much smarter, if Apple’s planned changes live up to what the company says is coming. Features Coming in iOS 18 The best new Siri features haven’t been added yet,…
Apple CEO Tim Cook Donating $1 Million to Trump’s Inaugural Fund
Apple CEO Tim Cook plans to donate $1 million to Donald Trump’s inauguration fund, reports Axios. The donation will be a personal donation directly from Cook rather than a donation from Apple. Following Trump’s win, Cook congratulated him on social media site X, and in December, Cook had dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Cook aimed to maintain a relationship with Trump during Trump’s first…
Review: Apple’s M4 Mac Mini is the Best Desktop Mac
Apple refreshed the Mac mini back in November, adding M4 chips and increasing the base memory. We did a hands-on impressions video at the time, but we thought we’d follow that up with a more in-depth review now that we’ve had more time to spend with Apple’s cheapest desktop machine. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Priced starting at $599, the Mac mini offers the…
Apple Vision Pro May Now Be Out of Production
Apple’s first-generation Vision Pro headset may have now ceased production, following reports of reduced demand and production cuts earlier in the year. In October, The Information’s Wayne Ma reported that Apple had abruptly reduced production of the Vision Pro headset ahead of potential plans to stop making the current version of the device completely by the end of 2024. With the year now…