The front design of the iPhone has remained mostly unchanged since the release of the iPhone 14 Pro in 2022, but this is expected to change with the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Renowned leaker Digital Chat Station has confirmed previous reports that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will incorporate metalens technology to make the Dynamic Island, which has not altered in size since its introduction three years ago, narrower.
The iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature a floor-to-ceiling metal meta-lens that primarily integrates Face ID Rx and Tx. This design will minimize the need for thinner structural components, and the size of the Smart Island will be further reduced. This innovation is also set to be implemented in the standard iPad Pro and the foldable iPad (another point of interest). Guoguo’s ultimate aim remains to achieve 3D human face recognition beneath the screen, although this will require several generations of development. For now, let’s gradually reduce the size of the Smart Island [Guess].
Unlike the traditional curved lenses found in today’s top iPhones, the metalens is an optical lens that employs nanostructured materials to manipulate light. Being flat and lightweight, it occupies less space.
Allegedly, Apple plans to utilize metalens technology for the Face ID system in order to reduce the size of the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
A recent rumor suggests that Apple will also implement this technology in the front camera of its first foldable iPhone. According to today’s leak, this technology may eventually be introduced in the iPad Pro as well.
Apple aims to integrate the Face ID system beneath the screen, but Digital Chat Station indicates that it may take several generations before this becomes a reality.
An earlier rumor also suggested that the iPhone 17 Pro would have narrower bezels. Additionally, Apple is reportedly considering various design changes, including sloped edges, a Pixel-style camera bar, aluminum side rails, and a back design that combines aluminum and glass.
Despite being one of the best smartphones on the market, the iPhone 16 has not generated much excitement, and Apple appears to be looking to revitalize its appeal with design updates this year.
Furthermore, the iPhone 17 Pro is expected to feature a 48MP periscope camera as well as a 48MP front-facing camera.
The company is also anticipated to launch the iPhone 17 Air, a competitor to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, which will replace the Plus model in its lineup. The series will be powered by A19 chips produced using TSMC’s enhanced 3nm process, and the iPhone 17 Air may showcase an in-house modem.
