August 19, 2025, 3:14 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Less than a month before the unveiling of the iPhone 17 series, almost everything about the new models is known. The new design of the 17 Pro and Pro Max has been set for some time. However, it was previously unclear how exactly the combination of aluminum casing and glass would look. Current leaks, however, show these and other components in detail.
Cutout for MagSafe in Metal Casing
So far, iPhones consist of a metal frame surrounded by glass on both the front and back. Unlike previous models, the iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max, and Air are expected to have a metal back—most likely aluminum. We already saw the corresponding components in a leak in March.
Even then, a large hole in the aluminum frame was visible, intended for embedding the charging coil and magnet ring for MagSafe. Newer information from the well-known leaker Majin Bu goes even further into detail.
iPhone 17 Pro to Return to 2016 Design
New Components for iPhone 17 Leaked
iPhone 17 Pro with Metal Camera Bar
Earlier leaks were still uncertain whether Apple would use a glass panel for the new camera bar or if it would be part of the unibody metal casing. According to Majin Bu, the latter is the case. Instead of placing antennas in the casing frame, they are expected to move into the camera bar. This could enable better reception and make interruptions between antennas in the metal frame unnecessary.
Nevertheless, the entire casing is not made of aluminum. Under the camera bar, a glass plate covers the passage for the MagSafe hardware. The downside of this arrangement is that the glass on the back is not separately replaceable, as in current iPhone models. This complicates the repair of a defect often caused by dropping.
New Battery with Steel Frame
Images of the alleged batteries for the iPhone 17 Pro also come from Majin Bu. Apparently, there will be two different versions: one for the U.S. and other markets, and one for China.
The images suggest that the logic board no longer sits vertically next to the battery but horizontally above it. As in the iPhone 16 Pro, a steel casing is expected to shield the battery in the 17 Pro. This helps with heat dissipation and is likely to lead to a longer lifespan.
According to the leaked images, the international version is slightly larger. The battery in the Chinese version is somewhat smaller and thus more L-shaped. The missing corner is presumably necessary to make room for the physical SIM slot. A video from a Chinese leaker seems to confirm this information. There, too, the difference between the two battery versions is clearly visible.