iPhone 17 Pro leak unveils surprising metalens and slim bezels

A leaked image suggests that the iPhone 17 Pro will feature the first front design change since the iPhone 14 Pro, according to reports from Chinese social media. The changes include a smaller Dynamic Island and smaller bezels.

Leaked image reveals design changes in iPhone 17 Pro

A report from the Chinese outlet My Drivers indicates that the iPhone 17 Pro will have a smaller Dynamic Island. Analyst Jeff Pu first highlighted this claim in May, suggesting that while Apple will not place the Face ID system behind the screen, it will employ metalens technology to make the cutout narrower.

Metalens technology

Metalens, or metasurface lens, is an optical lens that uses nanostructured materials rather than curvature to manipulate light. This technology allows for a flatter, lighter lens, which could replace traditional bulky optical components.

Concept images and design speculation

The report includes a concept image illustrating the smaller Dynamic Island design and suggests that the iPhone 17 Pro will feature reduced bezels. Although an all-glass iPhone is not expected soon, these changes represent a significant step toward that goal.

Leaked image credit: My Drivers

Analyst Pu noted that only the iPhone 17 Pro Max would include the metalens, implying that the other three models may retain the same-sized Dynamic Island as current models. Conflicting leaks are also emerging about a potential horizontally stacked camera design for the new iPhones.

Leaked image credit: My Drivers iPhone 17 Slim concept and camera redesign

Additionally, a concept video has emerged, showcasing a potential camera redesign for the iPhone 17 Pro family and a new super-thin model referred to as the iPhone 17 Slim or iPhone 17 Air. This concept video merges various leaks about the camera design.

Leaked image credit: My Drivers

However, the depiction of the “iPhone 17 Pro Max Slim” in the concept is unlikely to materialize in the coming year. The video presents a possible future direction for the iPhone’s design, leaning towards thinner models.

It is speculative whether the modified camera design, resembling the Google Pixel camera visor, will be finalized for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Recent leaks have hinted at this design, yet concrete information about the final design remains insufficient at this time.

Featured image credit: Kerem Gülen/Ideogram