Apple announced that its annual announcement event will take place on Tuesday, September 9, at 20:00 Israel time. As usual, the new iPhones will take center stage, and this time it is the iPhone 17 series – to which the Apple Watch Series 11 will definitely be added, and maybe even the AirPods Pro 3. Leaks that have already been circulating online in recent months tell of a redesigned look, an upgraded camera array with a periscope lens, a powerful A19 Pro chip, and new software features in iOS 26, which are expected to further deepen the integration of Apple Intelligence into the devices.
But the really interesting news comes from the field: We managed to get our hands on a dummy model of the iPhone 17 Pro Max – through a source connected to a case company in China, in collaboration with the “Appleists” group. It is important to clarify: This is not a real device. It has no active screen, no working cameras, and no new processor. What this mockup does allow is to understand where Apple is headed – and it is definitely different. The first thing you notice is the thickness.
For comparison, the current iPhone 16 Pro Max is 8.3 mm, while the model we have measures 8.7 mm. That is, at least from what it looks like right now, the next iPhone will not be thinner – but on the contrary, thicker. If this is indeed the case, it is an interesting change of direction. For years Apple has chased the ultra-thin look, sometimes even at the cost of limited battery life. Now it seems it may be choosing the opposite path – making the device slightly larger to allow for a bigger battery and improved durability.
And it doesn’t stop there. The model we have shows a titanium frame with a slight curve, a particularly large rear camera array with three lenses – including a new periscope lens designed to allow significant optical zoom. Reports online talk about a 48-megapixel telephoto lens, improved night photography, and an upgraded selfie camera with a 24-megapixel sensor. Even if not every detail makes it into the final version, the direction is clear – Apple is planning to turn the Pro Max into an even more serious photography tool.
On the front of the device, the screen remains huge – 6.9 inches almost edge to edge – with a 120Hz refresh rate that this time is expected to be available on all models in the series, not just the Pro. Leaks also suggest the possibility of a change in design language: A smaller version of Dynamic Island, thinner bezels, and a brighter display than before.
And what about the software?
Here comes iOS 26, expected to bring with it the Liquid Glass interface and upgrades to Siri as part of Apple Intelligence. Apple is trying to integrate its artificial intelligence deeper into everyday life, with smart editing capabilities for photos and videos, smart reminders, and automatic adjustments based on user habits.
Bottom line: If the mockup we have really reflects Apple’s direction, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is going to be not only more powerful but also thicker – a small change that marks a different approach. Instead of chasing another half millimeter less, Apple may have finally realized that what really interests users is a battery that lasts all day, cameras at the level of premium cameras, and smart software that feels one step ahead.
And yet, it seems Apple has not completely given up on the ultra-thin dream. According to persistent leaks, the company will present this year a new model called iPhone 17 Air that will replace the Plus version that did not take off. This is expected to be the thinnest iPhone ever, with a thickness ranging from 5 to 6 mm – with the dummy model we have measuring exactly 5.5 mm.
For comparison: The iPhone 6 was considered particularly thin at the time with 6.9 mm. Since then all models have only gotten thicker, mainly due to batteries, camera arrays, and Face ID sensors. If the iPhone really does return to such dramatic dimensions, it will be one of the most significant design changes Apple has made in the last decade.