Apple is poised to unveil its redesigned iPhone 17 lineup, which may feature a significant shift back to an aluminum and glass construction model. This update includes the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, which are expected to adopt this new aesthetic while enhancing wireless charging capabilities. The anticipated launch is set for September 2025.
Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup to feature aluminum, glass design
Wayne Ma and Qianer Liu of The Information released a detailed report on the “iPhone 17 Air,” uncovering several new insights about the device.
The iPhone 17 Pro models will incorporate a part-aluminum, part-glass design, a return to a look last seen before the iPhone X in 2017, when Apple shifted to stainless steel and titanium. According to reports, this redesign aims to offer a more streamlined and durable device. The upper section of the device will feature an aluminum frame, while the bottom will include a glass panel to facilitate wireless charging. The rear also includes a more prominent rectangular camera bump crafted from aluminum, a departure from the glass used previously.
In addition to these changes, Apple plans to transition all its standard iPhone models to aluminum frames, moving away from stainless steel and titanium. Current reports highlight the risk this may pose to wireless charging effectiveness due to the metallic finish, but Apple appears prepared to mitigate these risks with its hybrid approach.
The iPhone 17 Air is also generating interest, as it could become the thinnest iPhone to date, measuring between 5mm and 6mm. This thinner profile will require compromises, such as the omission of a physical SIM card tray in favor of an all-eSIM setup, similar to recent models in the U.S. Additionally, the device will utilize a single speaker located in the earpiece due to limited internal space.
The ambitious plan entails an Apple-designed 5G modem that promises to be more compact and power-efficient than the Qualcomm alternatives currently in use. However, reports suggest this modem will not support ultra-fast mmWave 5G, indicating some limitations in cellular performance compared to previous models.
The camera design has also been reimagined. The iPhone 17 Air will reportedly feature a single large rear camera, diverging from the multi-camera systems seen in recent iPhone iterations. The device is currently in early production trials at Foxconn, where the engineering team is working to accommodate the small internal volume needed for the battery and components.
Among the expected specifications for the standard iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro models are notable improvements including an A19 chip, Face ID capability, a 6.6-inch display, and an increase to 8GB of RAM. Display enhancements may also include a full-width Dynamic Island, improving the user interface.
The iPhone 17 Pro lineup is projected to include a larger camera bump, reflecting a change in design philosophy aimed at enhancing photographic capabilities. However, it is uncertain how Apple will position these features to the market, given the potential consumer pushback against the noticeable shift in material from more premium offerings back to aluminum.
Featured image credit: Matteo Fusco/Unsplash
