iPhone 17 Pro Rumoured to Feature Apple Watch Ultra-Style Antenna Redesign

Highlights

• The iPhone 17 Pro may feature a redesigned antenna system similar to the Apple Watch Ultra’s multi-band setup.
• This new placement aims to reduce signal interference and shielding caused by user grip and metal components.
• Apple could improve electromagnetic energy distribution and boost connectivity in dense urban or indoor environments.

Apple is just weeks away from unveiling the iPhone 17 Pro and every day there is a new update or leak hitting the newsstands. The recent addition to the lore comes from leaker Majin Bu, who has shared another rumour about a major change to its antenna system. Here’s more on that.

iPhone 17 Pro New Antenna Redesign

According to a recent blog post by Majin Bu, Apple plans to reposition the antennas around the large new camera bar on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro. Majin Bu writes, “According to my source, Apple is set to introduce a significant structural change in the iPhone 17 Pro: the repositioning of antennas around the rear camera module. This design choice mirrors the approach used in the Apple Watch Ultra, where antennas are strategically integrated to maximise reception and signal stability.”

The setup would be similar to the multi-band antenna system found in the Apple Watch Ultra, though on a much larger scale. Majin Bu points out that the new camera module is roughly the size of two Apple Watch Ultra displays.

He claims the new placement will make the antenna less prone to signal shielding and interference, which makes sense given that people usually hold their iPhones from the bottom rather than over the camera area.

Another reason for the change is to improve how the antenna’s electromagnetic energy is distributed. In current designs, a user’s grip and nearby metal components can distort the radiation pattern, reducing coverage. As of now, iPhones house antennas along the chassis edges with small breaks in the frame to let signals pass through.

By moving them around the camera module, Apple could achieve a more consistent main lobe spread, minimise shadow zones in vertical and diagonal directions and boost efficiency in busy signal areas like cities or complex indoor spaces.

The camera island is also less susceptible to shielding and interference, making it an ideal location for ensuring a stronger, more reliable connection in crowded environments.

Apple is expected to officially reveal the iPhone 17 Pro in about a month’s time with an event announcement likely coming later this month.

FAQs

Q1. What is the major antenna change expected in the iPhone 17 Pro?

Answer. Apple is rumoured to reposition the antennas around the rear camera module, adopting a design similar to the Apple Watch Ultra’s multi-band antenna system. This structural change aims to enhance signal reception and stability.

Q2. Why is Apple moving the antennas on iPhone 17 Pro to the camera island?

Answer. The camera island is less prone to signal shielding and interference. Placing antennas there helps distribute electromagnetic energy more evenly, reduces shadow zones, and improves connectivity in crowded or complex environments.

Q3. How does the new iPhone 17 Pro antenna placement improve user experience?

Answer. Since users typically hold their iPhones from the bottom, relocating antennas away from grip areas minimises interference. This leads to stronger, more reliable signals, especially in urban or indoor settings where coverage is often challenged.

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