Rumor of iPhone 17: camera bar, characteristics, sensors,

Reliable sources are finally talking about an iPhone 17 camera bar, so we break down why Apple might want to make this radical design change.

The rumor of the camera bar began with a Weibo account called “Chat Digital Station” and an X account called Jukanlosreve sharing in December 2024. Then, Majin Bu probably shared false sketches and some strange images of the supply chain that refers to a camera bar, which was later repeated by Jon Prosser with precision claims.

This group of rare leaks and people with poor (recent) records did not give us in Apple A lot of faith in the rumor of the chamber bar. It was not until Sonny Dickson shared the cases that presented the new camera bar that things felt real.

We have not yet had news from very precise sources such as Ming-Chi Kuo or Mark Gurman in the camera bar. It is still early, and everything that is shown so far could be easily discarded prototypes.

So, although Apple probably has devices that look like this, there is no way of knowing if they will come to production and release.

For now, let’s examine why Apple could adopt a camera bar on the iPhone 17 line. Because if Apple will add a camera bar, it will be with a good reason.

Space management

Apple can’t help launching a thinner smartphone. While recent models have stolen the trend, it seems that Apple is still obsessed with making iPhones thinner and thinner.

Rumors point to an iPhone 17 thin (or air) that would be incredibly thin, about 5.5 mm. The iPhone 16 is 7.8 mm, and the thinnest model was the 6.9 mm thick iPhone 6.

Kuo pointed out that the thinnest point of the iPhone 17 Slim would comply with that measurement of 5.5 mm. Apple does not sell conical iPhones and generally does not treat the blow of the camera as part of the thickness of the box, so it could be a slight allusion to the camera bar.

Rumored iPhone 17 Pro Max Camera Bar Design. Image Source: FPT

The existence of a chamber bar goes hand in hand with the rumor of Super Delgado iPhone. The cameras need space for all necessary parts, and thin devices do not have that space.

Apple probably saw its thin iPhone as a good goal for a possible replacement of iPhone Plus, then worked back from there. I had to rethink the entire camera system and could have reached a camera bar.

The purpose of a camera bar on modern smartphones is to pack the entire camera necessary in a thicker part of the phone while leaving space for everything else. If Apple spent the time and money engineering camera technology for iPhone, it is likely to have wanted it in all models.

So, despite the fact that the iPhone Pro of 8.3 mm thick probably has space for current components, a camera bar would allow even more advanced components. Imagine more space for better components of tetragrismo, larger sensor sizes or the rumored ultra -wide camera of 48mp.

Even the rumored Iphone 17 thin camera bump helps to add space

The triangle formation of the iPhone 17 PRO System would remain so that Apple did not have to change how its computational photography works. However, the components could extend wide instead, so there is more space for battery and other components.

At least, all this would explain why the alignment of the iPhone 17 would get the camera bar that saves space. It is about saving space on the iPhone 17 Slim and adjust more camera functions on the iPhone 17 Pro already filled.

There is absolutely zero possibilities that Apple implements a camera bar only for aesthetic reasons. That said, design changes are attractive to customers.

Consumers like different

Apple’s iPhone has been very similar since the iPhone 12 and its flat sides. The rear, excluding the sides, has been the same since the iPhone 11 in addition to some alterations in the camera positions.

External design changes attract customers who want to show their new iPhone

Any year Apple’s design changes react, such as dynamic Island or new colors, customers react. The more significant the design change, the more likely, customers buy the device simply because they look different.

While a camera bar has something useful, Apple is probably aware that it is beyond time for a new external design. However, renders do not seem to be doing potential design justice.

Regardless of what Apple decides to do with the design of the camera bar, wait a little more thought. The cameras will still excel than the chamber bar, so the flat surface will remain bamboleo.

Case manufacturers could use the additional space provided by the camera bar in an interesting way. That, in addition to Magsafe, will probably result in some interesting accessories.

Chamber bars can be for more than cameras

Apple is likely to do more than extend the current chamber blow to be edge to edge. Prosser renders show a lot of white space enclosed in glass, which brings to mind a different design possibility.

Chamber bars have been used for more than cameras

Companies like Xiaomi have used a camera bar for a while. The Xiaomi Mi 11 even had a small screen in the camera bar.

Apple seems unlikely to add a screen to the back of the iPhone, but it would not be totally unheard of. Notifications, live activities and widgets could easily use the small space.

Externally, it seems a lot of wasted space, but internally, it is likely to have much better components than before. Therefore, that may be enough for Apple to justify the camera bar without slapping a screen.

Pixel did it

Google introduced a camera bar in the Google Pixel 6 in 2021. He explained that the bar was necessary for the advances in camera technology without sacrificing the thickness of the device.

The company was quite proud to improve the cameras while doing it in what I called a “love work.” Google says that the camera bar is not just practical; It is elegant and defines the design of the generation.

Google Pixel leans in the camera bar as design aesthetics. Image Source: Google

Apple is likely to adopt a similar approach to explain the purpose of the camera bar. While it is ugly, a camera bar is practical when it comes to constantly expanding camera needs.

The cameras are limited by physics. Space between lenses and sensors is needed. That goes against the desire of thinner devices.

When Apple launched the iPhone and its total screen interface and start button, Android quickly changed to that approach. Then the years of Apple and Samsung began chasing the design innovations of the other.

Like iPhone notch it was a good solution to maximize the screening sector of the screen, the Pixel camera bar can be the solution Apple uses to solve its space problem. Only time will say if this is the address in which Apple decides to enter.

That the crowd “Pixel Did It First” as the classic and endless battle between technological tribes continues. Of course, first it has never imported, only implementation.