Yesterday we learned about three new potential iPhone 17 Pro camera features. Today a test unit was possibly spotted in the wild — potentially showing us the first glimpse at one of those rumored features.
Frankly, I was a bit skeptical of the MacRumors tipster who anonymously claimed that iPhone 17 Pro would feature three hardware and software camera features that weren’t already leaked or rumored. Since publishing, however, I’m a lot more convinced that their tip is legitimate (and I’m generally super skeptical of everything).
Maybe I’m just feeding into my own belief now, but I can’t help but see that rumored second Camera Control mentioned yesterday on today’s alleged iPhone 17 Pro leak.
The degrees of uncertainty are piling up on this one, but some things do add up. First, the rumor from yesterday was based on an iPhone 17 Pro ad being produced. It showed, among other things, a second kind of Camera Control near the top-edge of the device. Second, if this is some sort of capacitive touch scroll surface, the placement makes sense. You could hold the iPhone in landscape orientation with the main Camera Control under your right index finger and this new addition under your left index finger.
But why? Perhaps Apple has heard feedback that the swipe surface features really complicate the current Camera Control button, and moving those functions to a separate piece of hardware could help. Another idea is that Apple could connect zoom to the left button without switching modes with the right button.
Or maybe it’s all fake! We’ll find out in about six weeks. Apple usually unveils new iPhones in early September. What do you think? Sun glare? Antenna? Creative people chasing attention? Or might this actually be the first look at a new hardware feature Apple announces in September?
Here’s the source X post to see everything in context.
