The iPhone 17 Pro may soon feature a wild accessory

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro may have an unusual customization option if a picture showing a wild new accessory type is anything to go by. Instead of merely wrapping the phone in a case or skin, colorful panels on that unique iPhone 17 Pro camera module may allow for much-needed flirting with the phone’s aesthetics and making much use of all that blank space we expect to see around the cameras.

The iPhone 17 Pro’s design

Anyone who has come across early renders of the iPhone 17 Pro’s could-be design must have been struck by the very large camera module on the back, which looks somewhat flat and has three main cameras on the left, with flash unit and another sensor on the right. So that blank space between them becomes the very focal point for the rumored panels.

“The camera accessory makers are innovating with original camera covers for the wide camera tray of the new iPhone 17 Pro,” wrote Majin Bu on X, the name of the account affiliated with Apple-iPhone leaks. The picture attached shows four bright panels, one branded by Ripcurl, others by comic strip style. Each has camera and sensor cutouts matching the places on iPhone 17 Pro renders.

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The iPhone 17 Pro

How would they attach on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro is really not something that has been clarified, as the camera module is raised, with a commenter on the X post saying, “would be great if they’re magnetic,” attaching it easily, swapping it, and avoiding the waste of an item like the panel’s one-time use-a skin.

And that creates customization value-a lot of it! Individually sold panels, or panel sets with matching cases, and we could see people creating even bolder combinations for the back of their new iPhone. Case makers will be eagerly jumping on board with others that produce cases for the iPhone surely isn’t going to pass up the opportunity of advertising on the back of the latest iPhone model.

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But then, just panels and any rumors are based merely off of a possible design of an unreleased smartphone; we should regard this matter as mere speculation and nothing concrete. But the idea does speak to how Apple may be intending to completely set this next iPhone apart, and would, indeed, answer the question as to why we expect the iPhone 17 Pro camera module to be completely flat. If that is the case, though, this is very likely the next must-have fashion object for the iPhone.