Jon Prosser is back. Despite a massive legal battle with Apple that sounds more like a spy thriller than a tech dispute, the man behind Front Page Tech just dropped renders that are turning the iPhone 17 conversation on its head.
If you've been following the rumor mill, you know the vibes. Everyone was expecting a "Slim" model. Some called it the iPhone 17 Air. But Prosser's latest renders, created in collaboration with artists like @zellzoi and based on alleged internal schematics, suggest Apple is doing something much weirder than just making a phone thinner.
Let's be real: Apple is suing him for a reason. The lawsuit, filed in the Northern District of California, accuses Prosser of misappropriating trade secrets related to "Liquid Glass"—the translucent UI overhaul we now know as iOS 26. When a guy is in that much hot water with Cupertino's legal snipers, you tend to pay attention to his renders.
The Camera Bar Nobody Expected
The biggest shocker in the iPhone 17 Jon Prosser renders isn't the thickness of the phone. It's the back. Forget the "stove-top" triple-lens cluster we've lived with since the iPhone 11 Pro. Prosser is showing off a horizontal camera bar that stretches across the entire rear of the device.
Honestly? It looks like a Google Pixel.
But there’s a logic to it. This "camera plateau" design is supposedly Apple’s solution to the physics problem of ultra-thin phones. By spreading the sensors horizontally, Apple can keep the body of the phone—specifically the rumored 5.5mm-6.25mm "Air" or "Slim" variant—wafer-thin without the device wobbling like crazy on a table.
- The Air Model: Features a single 48MP sensor on the left of the bar.
- The Pro Models: Use the same horizontal plateau but cram three 48MP lenses (Main, Ultra-Wide, and a new 8x Tetraprism Telephoto) inside.
- The Materials: We're looking at a return to an aluminum unibody, ditching titanium because aluminum is better at dumping heat.
Why the "Slim" might actually be the "Air"
For months, the internet couldn't decide if the new fourth model was the "iPhone 17 Slim" or the "iPhone 17 Air." Prosser has been adamant: it’s the Air.
It’s a brand-new category. Think of it like the original MacBook Air. It isn't the most powerful. It doesn't have the best camera—in fact, the renders show it only has one rear lens. But it’s the one people will want because it feels like the future.
The renders depict a device that is roughly 5.5mm to 6mm thick. To put that in perspective, the iPhone 16 Pro is about 8.25mm. This thing is going to feel like a slab of glass. However, there’s a catch. To get it that thin, Apple is reportedly removing the bottom speaker. You’ll have to rely on the earpiece speaker for everything. Prosser’s renders also show the SIM tray is officially dead—eSIM only, even in global markets, which is going to annoy a lot of travelers.
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The "Cosmic Orange" and Two-Tone Finish
Colors usually don't matter much in the grand scheme of things, but Prosser’s renders highlight a major shift in Apple’s aesthetic. We’re seeing a "Cosmic Orange" for the Pro models that looks more like a high-end sports car than a piece of consumer electronics.
There’s also this weird two-tone thing going on. The renders show the "camera plateau" being a slightly different shade or material than the rest of the back. While some insiders like Mark Gurman have pushed back on this, Prosser has doubled down, claiming the contrast is part of the "Liquid Glass" design language that matches the new iOS 26 transparency.
Is Prosser Right This Time?
Look, Jon Prosser has a history. He was the first to show us the AirTags and the iMac redesign. He also famously got the "flat-edge" Apple Watch Series 7 wrong.
But here’s the thing: his current renders aren't just guesses. They are based on the same sources that leaked the "Liquid Glass" UI, which turned out to be almost 100% accurate. Apple's lawsuit alleges that Prosser's source actually accessed a development iPhone. If that's true, these renders are as close to a "leak" as we’re ever going to get before Tim Cook stands on a stage.
The trade-offs shown in these renders are real:
- Battery Life: You can't have a 6mm phone with a massive battery. The Air model will likely have the worst battery life in the lineup.
- Durability: Remember Bendgate? An aluminum phone this thin is a structural nightmare.
- Price: Rumors suggest the "Air" could start at $1,299, making it more expensive than the Pro Max despite having fewer cameras.
What to Do Now
If you're planning to upgrade, don't buy an iPhone 16 or the current 17 models if you value design over everything else. The "Air" model depicted in these renders represents the first major design shift Apple has attempted in five years.
Keep an eye on the legal filings. If Apple successfully gets a gag order on Prosser, it’s a massive "Buy" signal for the designs he's leaked—it means he hit too close to home. Otherwise, wait for the spring event where the iPhone 17e is expected to drop, as it will give us our first real look at how Apple is handling these new chassis materials in a budget-friendly way.