Several third-party case manufacturers are banking on leaked iPhone 17 designs, with companies like Spigen, Dbrand, Nudient, and Pitaka all showcasing nearly identical case cutouts several days before Apple's "Awe dropping" iPhone event.
MacRumors readers have contacted us about the cases, many of which prominently feature space for the rumored camera bar redesign for the iPhone 17 Pro models. The cases clearly show cutouts for the expected horizontal camera array stretching across the device's back, with dummy units showing three 48MP lenses positioned on the left side and flash/LiDAR components on the right.
Elsewhere, case makers are confidently divulging sizing details through Amazon listings, suggesting both the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro will sport 6.3-inch displays. Meanwhile, Pitaka has quietly added iPhone 17 series pages to its website, all reflecting the same basic design language.
That includes the all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air – replacing the Plus model – which appears slimmer and has a single rear camera mounted on a runway-style bar.
What makes case makers so sure of their designs? The industry has a well-established supply chain intelligence network. Case manufacturers typically receive specifications from factory sources or Apple's accessory partners months in advance, but rarely from Apple directly (unless they are close case brand partners who hold their cases back until Apple's big reveal). The process often allows them to begin production runs before Apple's official announcements, thereby avoiding the costly scramble that would otherwise follow iPhone launches.
Unless Apple has somehow hoodwinked the entire case maker industry, given the remarkable consistency across multiple manufacturers, these leaked designs almost certainly represent Apple's final specifications. Whether they actually represent an improvement in terms of user experience remains to be seen.
Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld.
The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld.
Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie.
"Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026.
"I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by Juli Clover
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do.
The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up.
Upgraded Architecture
The next-generation...
Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by Joe Rossignol
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April.
Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far.
iOS 26.3
iPhone to Android Transfer Tool
iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
It would deeply amuse me if Apple COMPLETELY snowed all these manufacturers and released completely different designs when the phones themselves launch.
Am I the only one who doesn’t mind a new iPhone without a case? At least for a week, that way your hands can get a feel for the new design.
Also, not all cases are created equally. Ensuring compatibility with charging devices should not be overlooked.
Plus, usually once the case goes on, it’ll likely never come off until a new case is desired.
Although you can’t blame those who feel they need a case first. With Apple’s notorious affinity for breaking quite easily and an expensive price tag it makes sense ?♂️ as for me my favorite cases are the silicone ones or an otter box/pelican case.
I never use cases and have zero plans of ever getting one. Apple spends billions on design and engineering why on earth would I cover that with some garbage plastic
It would deeply amuse me if Apple COMPLETELY snowed all these manufacturers and released completely different designs when the phones themselves launch.
While amusing. That would a massive amount of waste that would likely end up in landfill.
I don't like the idea of the waste, but if you are mass producing items on what you THINK something is going to be without official word from the product manufacturer, that's on you. It's not giving them bad measurements and then producing something else.
