New iPhone 17 Pro MagSafe redesign shown in leaked image

AppleInsider

A new image said to be third-party cases for the iPhone 17 range backs up rumors of MagSafe being moved on all models -- and now altered on the iPhone 17 Pro.

Purported images of third-party iPhone 17 cases -- image credit: "UnclePan"

It's previously been claimed that Apple may need to lower the MagSafe magnets in the iPhone 17 range because of the phones' larger camera bumps. The presumption has been that the circular array of magnets will be repositioned slightly lower down the iPhone.

Now a new image from a leaker on Chinese social media site Weibo has shown off case designs that match this claimed lower position. "UnclePan" was briefly an active leaker around 2021 and 2022, but has no recent or significant track record to speak of -- and they were wrong about the Apple Watch bands.

The cases shown, though, do fit with previous rumors -- except regarding the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Those two models have a larger redesign than the rest.

Specifically, MagSafe magnets have previously been arranged in a complete circle, and they continue to be on the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air cases. But as demonstrated by MacRumors, the two Pro models instead show a circle that is broken at the bottom.

Reports in 2024 suggested that Apple was looking to make a smaller MagSafe ring and so save on magnets. But that didn't happen then, and making a radical change now would mean millions of MagSafe chargers potentially becoming useless.

There's no indication of why the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max should have different MagSafe designs to the rest of the range. Although separately, Apple has been rumored to be making a design change to the Pro models in order to add vapor chamber cooling.

The iPhone 17 range, including the expected slimmer iPhone 17 Air, will be launched in September. The most recent reports suggest it will be in the week beginning September 8, 2025.

Rumor Score: Likely

Read on AppleInsider

tht

It's previously been claimed that Apple may need to lower the MagSafe magnets in the iPhone 17 range because of the phones' larger camera bumps. The presumption has been that the circular array of magnets will be repositioned slightly lower down the iPhone.

Now a new image from a leaker on Chinese social media site Weibo has shown off case designs that match this claimed lower position.

What are you looking at here? The position of the MagSafe magnets looks like they have not changed based on these cases. The MagSafe ring on these cases look centered. 

The position may have shifted down slightly, but it looks so small that it is imperceptible. 

The only obvious change is the iPP models have a section taken out by the alignment magnet. 

Then, the Apple logo is likely to be centered on the iPhone’s planform like existing models too. It will be centered about the MagSafe ring. 

charlesn

That 17 Pro Max case looks thick AF. 

apple4thewin

charlesn said:

That 17 Pro Max case looks thick AF. 

Thicc with two c’s 

spheric

tht said:

It's previously been claimed that Apple may need to lower the MagSafe magnets in the iPhone 17 range because of the phones' larger camera bumps. The presumption has been that the circular array of magnets will be repositioned slightly lower down the iPhone.

Now a new image from a leaker on Chinese social media site Weibo has shown off case designs that match this claimed lower position.

What are you looking at here? The position of the MagSafe magnets looks like they have not changed based on these cases. The MagSafe ring on these cases look centered. 

EXACTLY. That is precisely why it was moved: So that it looks centered to you. 

In fact, it's moved several mm downwards.

Both arrows are the exact same length: 

edited 11:36AM