Source Sonny Dickson has just shared more prototypes of the upcoming iPhone 17 series. These latest images show a notable change in the design of the iPhone Pro series, going beyond the completely new horizontal camera cluster on the back that has been talked about a lot recently.

Dickson points out that the iPhone 17 Pro models have a marked area on the back that starts just below the camera cluster and extends to the bottom of the chassis. According to Dickson, this is “where the glass material will change.”

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Prototypes of the upcoming iPhone 17 series. Photo: Sonny Dickson

According to leaked news from Fixed Focus Digital (China), the iPhone 17 Pro will use a combination of glass and metal. Specifically, the glass will be located in the Apple logo area and integrated into the overall metal frame. This explains the red areas that appeared in the previous CAD images of the iPhone 17 Pro.

According to The Information, Apple has opted for a half-glass, half-aluminum design for its high-end devices to increase durability. The glass layer helps maintain wireless charging, while the aluminum frame is less likely to break than an all-glass design.

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CAD images of the iPhone 17 series, in which the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro have a red area on the back - marking the half-glass, half-aluminum design. Photo: Majin Bu

Currently, the iPhone 16 Pro still uses a titanium frame – an important change that Apple introduced from the iPhone 15 Pro. However, with the iPhone 17 series, Apple is said to be bringing the entire product line back to an aluminum frame.

True to previous leaks and CAD images, the newly shared model continues to confirm that Apple will apply the elongated horizontal camera cluster design on the back for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Air models, but not for the standard version.

These prototypes also show a smoother transition between the camera cluster and the back, thanks to Apple's new glass and metal joining process.

Additionally, today's images also confirm that all iPhone 17 models – including the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air – will support MagSafe.

With major design changes, this will be one of the most important visual upgrades on the high-end iPhone line in recent years.

iPhone 17 Pro Max is still the most advanced version?

There have been comments that, not the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but more likely this year Apple will launch the iPhone 17 Ultra. If that happens, the iPhone 17 Ultra will be the most advanced version.

9to5Mac reporter Ryan Christoffel questioned why Apple designed the iPhone 17 Pro Max thicker while simultaneously launching an ultra-thin iPhone model like the iPhone 17 Air.

From there, Ryan theorizes that Apple is trying to create clearer differentiation between the lines, including renaming the iPhone 17 Pro Max to the iPhone 17 Ultra.

Apple may need this change to attract attention after recent decline in iPhone sales.

However, the possibility of Apple making such a big change is still unclear. But whether it is called iPhone 17 Pro Max or iPhone 17 Ultra, the highest-end iPhone model is always favored with the most powerful upgrades.

According to leaked news, in addition to changing the design of the camera module, the iPhone 17 Pro Max model is said to have a Telephoto camera upgraded to 48MP.

Additionally, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is also rumored to feature 12GB of RAM, up from 8GB of RAM on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. This upgrade will help improve the performance of Apple Intelligence features and multitasking capabilities.

Another exclusive upgrade for the iPhone 17 Pro Max is that the Dynamic Island will be "significantly narrowed" thanks to hardware changes related to the Face ID system.

According to analyst Jeff Pu, Apple applies metalens technology to the Face ID system, allowing to reduce the size of this system without reducing efficiency, while expanding the display space on the screen...

The new iPhone series will be launched in September 2025, according to Apple's annual tradition. The 2025 iPhone models are expected to include: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air.

Watch the iPhone 17 Pro concept video with a completely new rear camera cluster design. (Source: Asher Dipprey)

(According to Macrumors, The Information)

Leaked images confirm the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Air will have a completely new design. Leaked images on X of the first iPhone 17 Air case and 3D models of iPhone 17 models show that the 2025 iPhone will have a completely new rear camera cluster design.