iPhone 17 Pro Antennas Could Wrap Around Camera Module

Leaker Majin Bu has shared new renders and details suggesting that Apple is relocating the iPhone 17 Pro’s antenna system from the traditional frame lines to encircle the enlarged rear camera bump (via MacRumors).

This reconfiguration mirrors the multi-band antenna approach used in the Apple Watch Ultra. The idea is that this new positioning may reduce signal interference that can occur when hands, or even cases, cover the conventional placement on the chassis.

Design critics note that relocating the antenna to the sizable camera island may free up space along the device’s edges, producing a cleaner look and allowing for additional internal components, like enhanced thermal systems. This approach could also expand the antenna’s coverage, reducing dead zones caused by unpredictable electromagnetic patterns when users grip the phone.

From a technical standpoint, this change could deliver more stable 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth performance, especially in dense urban environments or indoor spaces where signals are easily disrupted. Given the iPhone 17 Pro’s rumored metal-glass hybrid frame and bold rectangular camera bump, the antenna relocation might be both a functional and aesthetic upgrade.

However, skepticism remains. Some sources, including AppleInsider, caution that while the logic behind the antenna shift is sound, the credibility of Majin Bu’s leaks has been inconsistent.

This potential redesign joins several other expected upgrades in the iPhone 17 lineup. These include Apple’s shift from titanium to aluminum frames, a half-aluminum rear panel with integrated glass for wireless charging, more powerful A19 Pro chips, ProMotion across all models, and improved cooling systems using vapor chamber technology.

With Apple’s launch event likely scheduled for early September, official confirmation of the antenna design change may be just weeks away