Apple iPhone 17 Pro spotted in public

iPhone 17 Pro spotted: A new leak has set the Apple rumour mill buzzing after an alleged iPhone 17 Pro test unit was spotted in public with an unusual design element. The prototype, seen in a cafe in China, featured a peculiar component on the back that doesn’t match any current iPhone model. 

While it's too early to confirm anything, this sighting has sparked speculation about what Apple might be planning for its 2025 flagship. From potential new sensors to advanced camera systems, fans and analysts alike are curious about the hidden purpose of this mysterious hardware. 

Although the image's legitimacy hasn’t been verified, it adds to growing chatter around the iPhone 17 series. As Apple continues to innovate, every new detail counts — and this one could hint at a major shift in the Pro lineup’s design philosophy.  

iPhone 17 Pro launch date in India (Expected)

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max will likely be introduced at the Apple event between September 8 and September 10, alongside the Apple iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, and iPhone 17 Pro.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro spotted in public

I just spotted a test development iPhone in the wild 🤩🤩🤩 pic.twitter.com/iS3PtKWqxJ

— Fox Pupy 🦊🧡 (@Skyfops) July 28, 2025

 A man has been seen publicly with what is claimed to be an iPhone 17 Pro tester unit, as reported by the @Skyfops account on X. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, renowned for his precise forecasts, further validated its authenticity by sharing the same post and remarking, "wow, this looks legit." 

The image shows a man holding two iPhones. The iPhone in the background resembles a standard iPhone 16 Pro in Desert Titanium colour. Still, the one in the foreground, featuring a different camera module, is the iPhone 17 Pro. 

Examining the image more closely shows several details that support earlier leaked rumours and also reveal something new. Here's what we know about the supposed iPhone 17 Pro test unit.

What did the image reveal?

An alleged iPhone 17 Pro test unit has been spotted in public | Credit: X/@Skyfops

On the iPhone that the man is holding, two sensors (possibly the flash and LiDAR) are located on the far right of the back panel, akin to what has been observed in previously leaked dummies, renders, and images. 

Various sources have asserted that Apple will extend the camera module to the far right, and this image corroborates that. Nevertheless, a new and enigmatic cutout appears on the top of the phone. 

There is a cutout just above the triple-camera setup. According to reports, this might serve as a second Camera Control feature for the Pro models.

iPhone 17 Pro expected specifications

This recent leak, along with the MacRumors article, bolsters this theory. The informant additionally informed MacRumors that Apple might be developing an 8x optical zoom feature, which would be a significant enhancement over the current iPhones' 5x zoom. 

This appears strange, though, since an 8x zoom on the third camera would restrict the choices for portrait mode. Thus, it relies on the implementation. Apple will likely choose a telephoto camera with higher resolution and an optical zoom range of about 3.5x. 

Then, it could utilise in-sensor zooming like that of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16e to create a 2x crop. By combining a 2x crop with this 3.5x zoom, the result would be roughly a 7x zoom, allowing Apple to attain near-optical quality within that range.

According to the tipster, Apple could be working on an entirely new Pro camera app for the iPhone 17 Pro models, catering to both photos and videos. 

This would undoubtedly be an intriguing enhancement, as numerous users have noted that although Apple's camera systems meet professional standards, they can be somewhat restrictive, necessitating the use of third-party apps such as Blackmagic Camera to obtain optimal footage.

iPhone 17 Pro price in India (Expected)

The starting price for the iPhone 17 Pro is Rs 1,45,000, while the entry-level models of the premium iPhone 17 Pro Max cost around Rs 1,64,900. For context, the Pro models will rival Samsung's foldable flagship devices!