iPhone 17 Spotted: Apple’s Secret Spills onto San Francisco Streets

Whispers of a Slimmer Design Emerge from Potential Leak

A supposed test model of the unreleased iPhone 17 has surfaced in San Francisco, offering a rare glimpse at Apple’s next-generation device. The clandestine operation, usually confined to labs, appears to have been compromised, with social media buzzing over photographic evidence.

Uncovered in Union Square

Photos shared by X user @Skyfops depict an individual in San Francisco’s Union Square holding two smartphones. One device, unmistakably an iPhone with its Apple logo obscured by black tape, stands beside a subtly different second handset. This second device, housed in a case, exhibits a reconfigured camera module, notably relocating the LiDAR sensor and LED flash.

iPhone 17 Pro spotted in the wild? pic.twitter.com/m086f7v54w

— Sky (@skyfops) June 6, 2024

A Familiar Pattern of Leaks

If the images indeed showcase an iPhone 17, as suggested by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his “Power On” newsletter, it marks another instance of Apple’s carefully guarded hardware secrets escaping into the public domain. This echoes the infamous iPhone 4 leak in 2010, when an Apple employee left a prototype in a bar, leading to detailed analysis by Gizmodo.

Evolution of Design: The “Slim” Factor

Rumors from last year hinted at a significant design overhaul for one of the iPhone 17 models, potentially a much slimmer device informally dubbed the “iPhone 17 Air.” This iteration is expected to prioritize a thinner profile, possibly by making concessions on certain high-end features found in Pro models.

William Kerwin, a Morningstar analyst, anticipates a new form factor from Apple this September. However, he emphasizes that software, particularly advancements in AI, will be more crucial for revitalizing iPhone sales growth than hardware changes alone. “We still think that Apple improving its AI software offering is the most critical strategy for revitalizing iPhone unit sales growth,” Kerwin stated.

Similarly, Forrester analyst Dipanjan Chatterjee commented on Apple’s strategy, noting that “incremental enhancements” remain the focus. He believes the company aims to make the iPhone “a little bit better — a little bit slimmer.”

In 2023, smartphone shipments globally reached approximately 1.17 billion units, a slight decrease from the previous year, underscoring the industry’s reliance on compelling new features to drive consumer upgrades (IDC, 2024).

Apple’s Balancing Act: Secrecy vs. Real-World Testing

Apple is renowned for its tight security surrounding new products. However, rigorous real-world testing is indispensable, compelling the company to deploy unreleased devices in public settings. To maintain discretion, these test units are typically encased in special shells that disguise their final appearance, much like the iPhone 4 prototype that was made to resemble an iPhone 3GS.