Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 lineup appears poised for its most dramatic design shift in years, according to newly leaked photos and supply chain analyst reports. The next generation of iPhones is expected to feature not only a thinner, lighter model dubbed the "iPhone 17 Air," but also a radical camera redesign and significant hardware upgrades.
Photos shared on X show several metal dummy models believed to represent prototype designs for the iPhone 17 series. The mockups reveal notable changes in camera layouts, ranging from vertical dual-lens configurations to rectangular modules housing up to three lenses. The size and thickness of the units vary, with one model appearing especially slim, fueling speculation that it is the rumored iPhone 17 Air.
According to Forbes and Tech Radar, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to replace the Pro model and will reportedly measure only 5.5mm (0.2 inches) in thickness, making it the thinnest iPhone Apple has ever produced. The Air will likely retain a lightweight design and could introduce an Action Button, potentially replacing the traditional Ring/Mute slider.
Here’s your first look at the iPhone 17 dummies, Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/WnOjD71Iba — Sonny Dickson (@SonnyDickson) March 16, 2025
Alongside the design overhaul, Apple is also upgrading the front-facing camera across all four models. Analyst Jeff Pu, in a note with GF Securities, confirmed that the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will each include a new 24-megapixel front camera, a substantial increase from the 12-megapixel sensor used in the iPhone 16 series. Another analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, previously corroborated the claim, stating the higher resolution will "significantly improve the image quality."
The camera upgrade will allow for sharper selfies and enhanced flexibility in photo cropping during post-processing, as higher-resolution images retain better detail when edited.
Further hardware improvements are also on the horizon. Pu reiterated expectations of 12GB of RAM for the iPhone 17 lineup, with the Pro and Pro Max models featuring a 48-megapixel Telephoto camera. Apple's A19 and A19 Pro chips, based on TSMC's third-generation 3nm process (N3P), will power the new devices, promising improved energy efficiency and performance.
While pricing details remain under wraps, early reports suggest the iPhone 17 Air may serve as the most affordable model in the lineup, though the highest-tier versions could carry a steeper price tag due to the enhanced hardware.
Online reactions to the leaked images have been mixed. "There is no way a human being could like this camera design," one user commented on X, while another criticized the camera bump as intrusive. "I'm not sure who Apple is making iPhones for anymore," another post read, reflecting a sense of consumer fatigue over frequent design changes.
Despite the aesthetic debates, Apple's focus on slimmer profiles and significant camera upgrades signals a continued push to distinguish the iPhone lineup in an increasingly competitive smartphone market. All four iPhone 17 models are expected to debut in September.
