Explore the latest iPhone 17 Air leaks, featuring a slim design, single camera, and a Pixel-inspired visor. Discover how Apple might revolutionize its camera bump design for better stability and aesthetics.
I’ve officially achieved a major milestone—having the power to influence iPhone design from outside of Apple itself. Many believed I would have to be hired by Apple to have such an impact, but after making numerous requests urging Apple to remove the camera wobble by adopting a new design, they seem to have listened. After years of requesting Apple to copy the Google Pixel’s camera bump design, I’m now seeing signs that my plea might have actually swayed them. This change could make the iPhone more stable when laid flat on a table, a major improvement that we can all appreciate.
The leak first surfaced from Majin Buu, whose track record is, admittedly, a bit questionable. However, when 9to5Mac also picked it up and confirmed that it aligned with an earlier leaked design, things started to get more interesting. Despite being early in the iPhone’s development, this leak suggests that Apple may already be experimenting with this design concept. While mass production doesn’t begin until May, there’s a chance that this idea is already in the prototyping phase.
The iPhone 17 Air concept, which I think makes a lot of sense, has been circulating with rumors about its slim design. Apple may be attempting to shrink the size of their iPhones while keeping components like their custom modems. One of the more significant shifts is that this model is expected to have a single camera. This could explain the new design—Apple might want to fit the camera into a thinner, more compact profile while maintaining other components. This kind of change reminds me of Apple’s previous design choices with the 12-inch MacBook and early MacBook Air models, which focused on slimness.
Though the iPhone 17 Air may not be a major upgrade in terms of the camera, the promise of a thinner, lighter phone is certainly intriguing. Also, it’s rumored to be the first non-Pro iPhone model to feature ProMotion displays. However, we’re left wondering how these changes might impact battery life—there are concerns that it could drop substantially, even though Apple’s new modems might help mitigate that.
Another potential concern is the absence of stereo speakers in the iPhone 17 Air, which could be a trade-off for the slim design Apple is aiming for. If Apple does manage to create a very light and thin iPhone, it could be appealing, but we’ll have to wait and see how it balances other trade-offs like audio quality.
The question on everyone’s mind is whether this leak refers to the iPhone SE4 rather than the 17 Air. However, based on the design and the size differences, it seems more likely to be the iPhone 17 Air. Leaked photos of the SE4 reveal a dynamic island feature, a surprise for a budget model. This could mean Apple is positioning this as a more premium experience, even for a non-Pro phone.
As for the camera setup, Apple is reportedly focusing on a single lens for both the SE4 and the iPhone 17 Air. While this may make sense for cost-saving purposes, it’s tough to believe that Apple will completely ditch the ultra-wide lens, especially after all the attention they’ve given to spatial video. There’s a possibility that the company might use AI and machine learning to replicate the spatial video experience with just one camera.
If Apple moves forward with this new design, it will mark the first iPhone camera bump redesign in years. After six years of the same stovetop-style bump, many of us are ready for a change. This new design could eliminate the wobble and provide a more streamlined look. The key will be ensuring the camera module can still fit with Face ID sensors, but I believe Apple can manage this by slightly adjusting the design.
While I’m confident that these leaks are accurate, I’m ready to face the consequences if I’m wrong. If this turns out to be an inaccurate leak, I’ll be willing to shave off my middle knuckle hairs as a sign of how convinced I am that these reports are true.
So, what do you think about these leaks? Do you believe in them, or do you think they’re too good to be true? Will Apple adopt a Pixel-style camera design? Let me know your thoughts! Thank you to everyone supporting this journey—it truly means a lot!
