Rumors are circulating that Apple is considering a significant design change for its upcoming iPhone 17 series, with a report suggesting that cameras could be repositioned to create a horizontal row. This would be a departure from the current square-with-round-corners placement of three lenses on Pro models and two vertically-placed cameras on lower-end devices.
The leak comes from a trusted Weibo user, Digital Chat Station, who has previously proven accurate in their reports. However, industry experts are skeptical about the prospect of such a radical design change. Apple is unlikely to abandon its established design language so soon after introducing a new look with the iPhone 16.
There’s also a practical reason why Apple might be hesitant to adopt this design. The current vertical camera arrangement was introduced in the iPhone 16 to enable spatial video recording, which can only be achieved when held in landscape orientation. This feature has been praised for its innovative capabilities and it’s unclear whether software or lens changes could replicate the same effect.
While a horizontal camera row might make the phone look more like the Google Pixel series, there are valid concerns about this design change. Apple tends to stick with established designs for multiple years before introducing significant updates, especially since the company has already experimented with a new look in 2023. It’s possible that we’ll see a more subtle design update in the future rather than a complete overhaul.
For now, it’s essential to wait for further reports and confirmation from reputable sources before drawing any conclusions about Apple’s plans. The leak does raise an interesting possibility, but it will be useful to monitor developments closely and assess the credibility of this information.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidphelan/2024/12/17/apple-iphone-17-all-new-design-coming-leak-claims