For the first time since the iPhone 11 Pro, Apple has significantly altered the design of its flagship iPhone. The iPhone 17 Pro features an entirely new aluminum unibody structure with a camera bar referred to by the company as a “plateau that provides extra space for internal components.” Similar to the iPhone 11 Pro — which customers promptly dubbed the camera module a cooktop — this fresh design has divided opinions. While some are enthusiastic about the new orange, blue, and silver choices, it’s evident that Apple’s bold new design language is indeed polarizing.
From the iPhone X onward, Apple has consistently utilized glass on the back of the iPhone for MagSafe and wireless charging functionalities. However, this year, the iPhone 17 Pro showcases an aluminum frame that extends all the way to the back, featuring a glass window in the center to facilitate wireless charging. In addition to the design shift, it’s surprising to observe Apple moving away from traditional color options like Black and Gold, opting instead for a more unconventional approach. These radical changes prompt the question: Will we grow to appreciate Apple’s new design?
Even if the design of Apple’s new iPhone 17 Pro sparks controversy, it won’t remain unchanged for long. Currently, I’m still not convinced by the iPhone 17 Pro’s new look, despite it offering a more powerful device with improved heat dissipation. What I’ve appreciated most about the Pro iPhone models through the years is their consistently understated color options, making it easy to select my preferred version, even if it meant repeatedly choosing the same black variant. With the iPhone 17 Pro, Apple has fully embraced the Cosmic Orange colorway, which feels a bit excessive for my taste. This opinion comes from someone who has owned multiple blue iPhones, a Rose Gold iPhone 6s, a purple iPhone 14 Pro Max, and various others throughout the years.
The Silver option appears to be the most refined choice to suggest for the majority. On a positive note, there are rumors that the company plans to unveil a foldable iPhone next year, coupled with a 20th anniversary celebration in 2027. This could suggest that the iPhone may undergo a redesign sooner than anticipated, meaning this plateau design of the iPhone 17 Pro may not endure for long. That being said, the iPhone 17 Pro begins pre-orders on September 12, 2025, with an official launch a week later. We hope to form a clearer opinion on the design once we have the phone in our hands.
