Two credible leakers are at odds regarding the camera arrangement of the iPhone 17.
The first leaker claims that the iPhone 17 Pro will feature a horizontal camera layout resembling the Dynamic Island, while the second contends that, although the camera module design is changing, the triangular formation will remain intact.
Last week, Weibo user Digital chat station shared a render depicting a camera module with three lenses aligned side-by-side in a horizontal bar with rounded edges. They stated that the iPhone 17 “has indeed been altered to this design,” although it was merely a representation rather than an actual leak.
They provided the following render as visual evidence:
Previously, they made accurate predictions about the telephoto lens coming to the iPhone 16 Pro—previously available only on the iPhone 15 Pro Max—and the upgraded sensor size in this year’s main camera.
However, Instant Digital, known for precise leaks like the yellow iPhone 14 and the landscape front-facing camera on this year’s iPad Air, disagrees.
My source informed me that while the back’s appearance has indeed changed, the arrangement of the three cameras remains triangular, rather than the horizontal layout circulating online.
No additional details about the nature of the change were provided.
DMN’s Perspective
Previously, I noted that one aspect of the proposed horizontal layout seemed illogical:
We’ve observed other horizontal camera setups, with some commentators citing the Chinese brand Meizu as an early adopter. However, in that instance, the lenses are aligned vertically rather than horizontally—which appears more logical to me, considering that most photos and videos are captured in landscape mode.
Typically, spatial video would be formatted in landscape mode, suggesting that a vertical configuration—which would align the cameras side-by-side when the device is held horizontally—might be more practical.
Nonetheless, this disagreement highlights the challenges of predicting Apple’s designs based on supply-chain intel, which often proves unreliable for numerous reasons.
Apple frequently experiments with various designs and may consult multiple suppliers to evaluate the manufacturing feasibility of specific concepts.
They may request samples of components that hint at a particular layout but do not necessarily lead to actual production orders.
It’s even possible Apple intentionally misdirects leaks to obscure their true intentions, hinting at one design while planning another altogether.
Photo by Jose Castillo on Unsplash
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