A social media user spotted what was clearly a development iPhone in a thick black case that obscures the upcoming camera bar expected in the iPhone 17 models.
iPhone 17 prototype in the wild. Image source: Skyfops
iPhone 17 prototype in the wild. Image source: Skyfops
Apple tests its upcoming devices internally for the most part, but there’s a point when a prototype needs to exit the lab and get used in the real world. For the most part, these prototypes go unnoticed, but a significant design change makes the iPhone 17 easy to spot.
A social media post from user Skyfops shows two photos of a man in sunglasses holding two iPhones. One is a recent model, the other is in a thick black case that obscures its design entirely.