Lead: On Sep 5, 2025, ahead of Apple’s ‘Awe dropping’ event, new reporting from Bloomberg and coverage by 9to5Mac indicates the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max may introduce a two‑tone aluminum-and-glass rear with a camera bar spanning the top third and a lower cutout serving as the wireless charging area.
Key Takeaways
- Reports say the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will expand the camera area into a full-width top bar.
- Leakers and Bloomberg describe a two‑tone rear: an aluminum section plus glass, replacing the current all-glass look.
- The lower two-thirds may include a dedicated MagSafe/wireless charging cutout, per Mark Gurman.
- This design diverges from earlier rumors of an all-glass continuation of the iPhone 16 Pro rear.
- Switching more metal into the rear could reduce weight compared with recent titanium-and-glass Pro models.
- Analysts note this change could pave the way for an eventual all-glass iPhone 20 design direction.
Verified Facts
Multiple reports on Sep 5, 2025 identify the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max as the models most likely to receive the new rear design. The consistent elements across accounts are a camera area that spans the device width at the top and a distinct cutout feature across the lower portion of the back.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman described the lower cutout as also functioning as the wireless charging area; that detail aligns with recent leaks showing a separated MagSafe region rather than a continuous sheet of glass. Those accounts contrast with other leaks that expected an all-glass rear similar to the iPhone 16 Pro series.
Reports suggest Apple may favor aluminum over the titanium used on recent Pro models for the rear frame or back plate. If true, replacing heavier materials with aluminum and reducing glass coverage would likely lower device weight, a noticeable practical difference for users handling the phones.
Context & Impact
A visible shift to a two‑tone aluminum-and-glass rear would be the most pronounced external change to the Pro lineup in several years. Beyond aesthetics, the design affects manufacturing processes, antenna placement, thermal behavior, and wireless charging engineering.
For consumers, the immediate effects would be tactile (lighter phones) and visual (a new rear silhouette). For Apple, the change could signal a transitional phase toward future models that mix materials differently or return to an all-glass target years ahead.
Potential impacts include:
- Weight reduction and altered center of gravity.
- Revised MagSafe alignment and accessory compatibility.
- New production tooling and component sourcing for aluminum rear sections.
Bloomberg reporting indicates the new Pro models have redesigned backs with a camera area that spans the top and a lower cutout doubling as the wireless charging zone.
Mark Gurman / Bloomberg
Unconfirmed
- Exact materials and whether Apple will use aluminum in place of titanium across both Pro models remain unconfirmed.
- Precise weight savings and battery/thermal trade-offs have not been independently verified.
- The behavior and magnetic alignment of the reported charging cutout against existing MagSafe accessories are not yet confirmed.
- The suggestion that this change sets up an all-glass iPhone 20 is speculative.
Bottom Line
If Bloomberg’s account and recent leaks are accurate, Apple is preparing a clear visual and material shift for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max that could make the phones lighter and change how MagSafe accessories interact with the rear. Official confirmation should arrive at Apple’s event; buyers and accessory makers will want to watch for exact material specifications and MagSafe placement before drawing final conclusions.