Quick Summary
An image has surfaced online purporting to show the back of the unannounced iPhone 17.
The most interesting feature is the camera module, which appears to resemble the candy bar camera found on the back of the Google Pixel 9.
As we prepare for the launch of Samsung’s first flagship phone in 2025, let’s not forget its main competitor… Apple. We may not expect the next flagship iPhone series to arrive later this year, but that doesn’t mean the rumor mill can’t continue.
The latest news is about the iPhone 17, and if true, it could give us an indication that Apple is ready for its biggest design departure in six or seven years.
In fact – and this is usually uncharacteristic for Apple – we could see the company adopting ideas from another competitor.
An image has surfaced online of what is believed to be the iPhone 17’s back cover. It was shared by serial leaker Majin Bu on his X account, and it reveals a familiar-looking camera module.
Anyone who owns or has seen a Google Pixel 9, 9 Pro, or 9 Pro XL will immediately recognize the design. The candy bar-shaped camera module has been redesigned for that lineup released last year, and has a similar form factor to the one seen in the leaked image.
Perhaps most interesting about the version Apple is set to adopt is that it appears to have just one lens, with another slot on the other side for the flash (presumably). This makes us doubt that it will be used on the iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max. In fact, it’s also unlikely that the standard iPhone 17 models will revert to a single camera.
Instead, we may have just spotted the back cover of the iPhone 17 Air (or Slim, as some are calling it).
It’s been rumored for a while that the Air will have a single 48-megapixel camera on the back, to keep the device thinner than usual. Could Apple be adopting this new camera setup for this reason? After all, all you need are the thinner sides.
In any case, it’s unlikely that we’ll find out anything more specific anytime soon: the iPhone 17 series isn’t expected to debut until September. However, we could be seeing a new iPhone SE soon, so stay tuned.
