March 11, 2025, 03:25 AM PDT – Apple fans are buzzing over new iPhone 17 mockups unveiled in a video by YouTuber iDeviceHelp, crafted in collaboration with leaker Majin Bu and purportedly based on Apple internal documents. These mockups spotlight a daring redesign for the 2025 lineup, featuring a horizontal camera bar design on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Air, a significant shift from the familiar square camera bump that has defined recent iPhone models.
Watch the detailed reveal below from YouTube, where the iPhone 17 Pro showcases a wide aluminum camera bar stretching across its back. This bar houses a triangular arrangement of three camera lenses, an LED flash, a LiDAR scanner, and a microphone, aligning with reports from Wccftech. The design introduces a dual-tone aesthetic, potentially enhancing both form and function. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Air, set to replace the Plus variant, mirrors this camera bar design but opts for a slimmer version with a single-lens camera, emphasizing its ultra-thin 5.5mm chassis, as predicted by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and noted by The Verge.
In contrast, the standard iPhone 17 retains the iPhone 16’s vertical camera layout, according to MacRumors, reinforcing Apple’s strategy to differentiate its entry-level and premium offerings. The mockups, corroborated by leaks from Apple’s Chinese supply chain, maintain familiar button placements—volume, action, and camera control buttons—alongside a USB-C port. However, iDeviceHelp raises a critical question: can Apple fit MagSafe magnets into the Air’s razor-thin frame? This uncertainty adds intrigue to the design’s feasibility.
Analyst Jeff Pu reports the iPhone 17 Pro will switch from titanium to aluminum frames for environmental reasons, while the Air retains titanium, per AppleInsider. Separately, leaker Ice Universe suggests the Pro Max thickens to 8.725mm—up from 8.25mm—for a larger battery, a potential upgrade teased in Forbes. This could extend battery life beyond the already impressive iPhone 16 Pro Max, though it’s speculative until Apple’s September reveal.
These iPhone 17 mockups offer a tangible preview, but their accuracy remains unconfirmed. Accessory makers often base such models on rumors, not final designs. Critically, the camera bar’s purpose—beyond aesthetics—eludes clarity. Is it a practical fix for desk wobble, as some hope, or a stylistic gamble? User reception will ultimately decide its fate in Apple’s evolving lineup.
