Yesterday, we got a glimpse of what’s believed to be the iPhone 17 Air’s camera bump, and the feedback has not been particularly positive.
While we cannot confirm that the image is authentic, our sources suggest that the design shown is likely correct.
These days, creating fake images is quite easy, thanks to either AI or 3D printing. However, we noted that this image at least aligns with information from our own sources.
Majin Bu has a spotty history regarding Apple hardware leaks, especially at this early stage of rumors. Still, I have seen some independent CAD sketches from reliable sources that support the camera bar design for the iPhone 17 Air.
The feedback from viewers has been less than impressive.
“This looks really silly in these images.”
“It appears very top-heavy and unbalanced. While it bears similarity to the Pixel 9, I find that model more visually appealing.”
“Is that the Pixel 9?”
“Oh wow. That really gave me a laugh.”
“I’m not a fan of that design. It looks weird.”
“This is just awful.”
It’s important to consider a few aspects, though. First, leaks often come in low-quality images, and in this instance, there’s the visual distortion from what seems to be vacuum-sealed plastic packaging. Such conditions can make any object appear less than flattering!
While I concur that it appears unattractive in this photo, I have a feeling that it may not seem that way in reality.
Secondly, humans tend to resist change, and we notice a familiar three-step pattern with any new Apple design: initial disdain, gradual acceptance, and ultimately, an inability to envision it any other way.
One aspect many will appreciate is that the phone will not wobble when placed on a desk or table. Personally, I’m not fond of camera bumps generally—though I acknowledge we can’t create a uniformly thick phone to accommodate the camera module, so they’re inevitable—yet I dislike how iPhones tend to rock when used on a flat surface. Even minor actions like swiping a notification can be bothersome.
This new design would at least mitigate that issue and would also provide a slight tilt in the display towards the user, which is a plus when it doesn’t come with the inconvenience of wobbling.
Recalling the Nexus 6P
As several individuals pointed out, the design bears resemblance to the Google/Huawei Nexus 6P from 2015. All I did was eliminate a few non-essential features to provide a sense of how this type of camera bump could realistically appear; I see nothing wrong with it.
While I don’t anticipate purchasing the iPhone 17 Air myself—I plan to stick with the Pro Max for its screen size and camera capabilities—I wouldn’t mind owning a phone boasting this design.
Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns (edited by DMN)
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