Apple’s biggest event of the year is just around the corner, and a clearer picture of what the iPhone 17 Pro lineup will look like is finally coming into view. Mark Gurman has shared new details that settle months of speculation about the design. According to his report, Apple is preparing a major change to the Pro models, one that introduces both an aluminum frame and a distinctive glass cutout on the back.
For years, the Pro line has kept to a fairly consistent design language, with stainless steel frames leading up to the iPhone 14 Pro and a switch to titanium on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro. Now Apple seems to be reversing course once again. The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are said to feature aluminum frames that make the devices lighter and better at handling heat, something that has been a sore point for recent Pro models.
The more striking part of the redesign is the new back layout. Instead of sticking with an all-glass panel, Apple will use a mix of aluminum and glass. Gurman describes a camera area that stretches across the entire top third of the phone, paired with a large rectangular glass section on the lower portion that doubles as the wireless charging zone. This makes sense, since MagSafe and Qi charging would not function through a solid aluminum back.
The question now is how Apple will style the new design. Will the aluminum and glass blend seamlessly into a single finish, or will the MagSafe area stand out as a two-tone accent? Either way, this will be the boldest visual shift for the Pro series since flat edges returned with the iPhone 12 Pro. And for users, the payoff may be a phone that feels noticeably lighter in the hand while still offering stronger performance and improved battery life.
This design change also ties into Apple’s longer-term strategy. The company is entering a new three-year cycle of iPhone redesigns, beginning with the iPhone 17 range. A thinner iPhone 17 Air is expected to debut alongside the Pro models, with future plans pointing toward foldables and even a fully glass anniversary iPhone. For now, the aluminum-and-glass approach looks like Apple’s way of keeping things fresh while balancing weight, heat, and durability.
With the “Awe dropping” event just days away, the spotlight is firmly on the iPhone 17 Pro. A mix of familiar hardware upgrades and this more elaborate back design could be enough to make it the standout of the lineup, even against the buzz of the all-new iPhone 17 Air.
(via Bloomberg)
