A new report suggests that the iPhone 17 Pro Max, due next September, will feature a noticeable design change with a smaller screen cut-out, known as the Dynamic Island.
Additionally, Apple is reportedly considering a shift in display technology for the iPhone, aligning it with the Apple Watch’s latest advancements. It’s also speculated that the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 may share the same screen size.
Currently, the iPhone 16 has a 6.1-inch display, while the Pro model measures 6.3 inches. With the iPhone 17, both models are expected to adopt the 6.3-inch display. This marks one of several significant design updates.
The iPhone 16 lineup includes the larger iPhone 16 Plus, but reports indicate there will be no Plus model in the iPhone 17 series.
Instead, a new model, the iPhone 17 Air, is anticipated. This model is rumored to have a unique screen size of 6.6 inches, a dimension previously unseen in iPhones.
The redesigned iPhone 17 series will showcase distinct display sizes: two phones at 6.3 inches (matching the current iPhone 16 Pro), the Pro Max at a sizable 6.9 inches, and the new Air at 6.6 inches.
The appearance of the Dynamic Island on each iPhone 17 model remains uncertain.
Regarding the iPhone 17 Pro display, changes to align it with Apple Watch technology are being explored.
According to Korean site, after updating the display technology in the latest Apple Watch Series 10, Apple may introduce this technology to the iPhone in the future.
The Series 10 Watch uses LTPO3, a new variant of LTPO technology that differs from previous models.
“Apple announced on its website that the OLED LTPO TFT technology applied to the Apple Watch 10 series is LTPO3,” as per a machine-translated version.
In the past, Apple transferred the LTPO OLED screen from the Apple Watch Series 4 to the iPhone 13 after three years.
It’s plausible that this new tech might also transition to iPhones, potentially starting with the Pro models by 2025.
Analyst Jeff Pu, reported by Joe Rossignol, adds that the iPhone 17 Pro Max may feature a new metalens that allows for a smaller area dedicated to the front-facing camera and Face ID.
Dynamic Island, Apple’s term for the adaptive display around the cut-out, adjusts in size and shape to show additional information, like album art or flight updates.
Interestingly, Pu suggests that only the iPhone 17 Pro Max—not the smaller Pro model—will receive this update, which is a departure from Apple’s tradition of keeping Pro and Pro Max designs largely identical. Meanwhile, this modification is not expected for the standard iPhone 17 models.
For those unfamiliar with metalens technology, it explains, “A traditional iPhone camera has curved lenses that redirect light to the image sensor.
In contrast, a metalens is thin, flat, and has microscopic patterns that focus light more precisely.”
Pu didn’t specify how Apple would use metalens for the Face ID system or how it would impact the Dynamic Island’s size.
This latest report reinforces Pu’s earlier predictions, indicating Apple’s commitment to this design direction.
Given Pu’s strong track record, it’s a change worth considering seriously, even if the exclusion of the Pro from these updates is unexpected.
