iPhone 17 Pro reintroduces a glass cutout for 5G mmWave antenna on U.S. models - 9to5Mac

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  Published in Humor and Quirks on Tuesday, September 9th 2025 at 17:05 GMT by 9to5Mac

Apple May Shift iPhone 17 Pro’s mmWave Antenna to a New Spot – What the Rumors Mean for 5G Performance

By Research Journalist | September 9, 2025

For the first time since the iPhone 16 Pro, the latest Apple rumors are suggesting that the company could move the mmWave antenna on the new iPhone 17 Pro to a new location on the front of the device. Leaks circulating in the week before the official launch have shown a new glass cut‑out that could replace the familiar “TrueDepth” display pocket on the top edge, pushing the antenna to a lower spot that would allow Apple to fit a larger array without compromising camera or speaker design.

The mmWave Debate

Since the iPhone 12, Apple has offered two 5G options in its flagship lineup: the global “Sub‑6” bands that cover most of the world, and the “mmWave” bands that deliver blistering speeds in select markets like the U.S. and parts of Asia. Apple’s approach has always been to make the mmWave antenna a “transparent” part of the display, usually positioned in a glass pocket along the top edge of the phone. The 16 Pro’s mmWave antenna sits in the centre of the top‑edge glass cut‑out, just above the earpiece speaker. The size and placement of the antenna have a direct impact on reception quality; larger antennas are typically better at picking up the high‑frequency mmWave signals, but they also occupy more real estate on the phone’s front.

In 2024, Apple tweaked the iPhone 16 Pro to include a slightly larger glass cut‑out for the mmWave antenna. However, the design still felt cramped, especially when the company started to pack the front of the phone with a larger camera module and a higher‑resolution display. As a result, many analysts speculated that Apple would need to rethink the antenna location for the next generation.

New Leaks: A Glass Cut‑Out at the Bottom

The newest leaks, seen in a document released by a well‑known hardware‑leak site (link to “TechRadar: iPhone 17 Pro Design Spec”) and corroborated by a recent 9to5Mac article, show a different front‑face design. Instead of a single glass pocket at the top edge, the 17 Pro is rumored to have a new “glass cut‑out” that sits lower on the screen, closer to the bottom centre. The cut‑out would house a more sizeable mmWave antenna array, and the device would still retain the traditional TrueDepth camera and Face ID sensor, albeit moved to the upper centre area of the display.

In a side‑by‑side comparison with the 16 Pro (link to “9to5Mac: iPhone 16 Pro mmWave Antenna Placement”), the new glass cut‑out appears in the lower third of the screen, and the front‑camera sensor is shifted slightly upward. The design could allow Apple to use a larger, more efficient antenna array while keeping the overall height of the phone the same. Some speculators even suggested that the new placement could reduce the risk of “antenna de‑fact” that has plagued previous models when the phone is held in certain ways.

Why Move the Antenna?

Apple’s engineering team faces a trade‑off: the larger the antenna, the better the mmWave performance, but the bigger the footprint on the phone’s front. The 17 Pro’s rumored shift to a lower cut‑out could allow Apple to:

1. Improve mmWave Reception – A larger antenna placed in a more optimal spot could reduce signal loss, delivering faster upload and download speeds in dense urban environments.
2. Accommodate a Bigger Camera – The 17 Pro is expected to sport a larger 48‑megapixel sensor, and a lower antenna spot would free up space for a bigger image‑signal processor and more robust optical‑zoom lenses.
3. Maintain Display Integrity – By moving the antenna away from the top edge, Apple could preserve the 120‑Hz ProMotion display and avoid thinning the top‑edge glass, which is crucial for the “in‑display” Face ID sensor.

Apple has always been known for balancing design and performance. The rumored change, if confirmed, would show that the company is willing to tweak one of its most critical hardware elements to deliver the best possible user experience in the high‑speed mmWave bands.

Impact on 5G Pricing and Market Strategy

Apple’s 2024 iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max were available with mmWave options, but many customers opted for the cheaper Sub‑6 variant, especially in markets where mmWave coverage is sparse. If the 17 Pro can deliver significantly better mmWave performance, Apple may use that as a differentiator in the premium tier, potentially raising the price point for the Pro and Pro Max models in North America and South Korea.

The rumored shift could also affect the way carriers market the device. T‑Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon have all promised “world‑class” 5G speeds for the 17 Pro, and a new antenna design could make that claim more credible. For users who rely on ultra‑fast data for VR, AR, or high‑definition streaming, the improved reception could be a game‑changer.

Potential Downsides

While a lower glass cut‑out has benefits, it may also introduce new challenges:

• Heat Dissipation – The 17 Pro is slated to run on a new M2‑based SoC, which could generate more heat. A lower antenna location might make heat management more difficult.
• Manufacturing Complexity – Adding a second cut‑out for the camera and the antenna could complicate the front‑panel assembly, potentially increasing production costs.
• User Experience – The new placement might affect how the phone feels when held against a person’s face. It could alter the ergonomics for Face ID and gesture controls.

Despite these concerns, Apple’s history of iterative design suggests that the company will test a variety of prototypes before finalizing the layout.

Where We Stand

At this point, the rumors are based on leaked technical documents and early prototype images. Apple has yet to confirm any design changes, and the company is known for keeping its final designs under tight wraps until the official reveal. However, the evidence is strong enough that the 17 Pro’s mmWave antenna is likely to receive a makeover.

If Apple indeed moves the antenna to a new glass cut‑out lower on the screen, it would be a subtle yet significant change that could improve 5G performance, accommodate a larger camera system, and keep the iPhone’s overall thickness in check. For tech enthusiasts and 5G users alike, the rumor is a sign that the next iPhone generation may bring a more robust high‑speed data experience than its predecessor.

Further Reading

• TechRadar: iPhone 17 Pro Design Spec – Detailed technical drawings of the rumored front‑face layout.
• 9to5Mac: iPhone 16 Pro mmWave Antenna Placement – Side‑by‑side comparison of the 16 Pro’s glass cut‑out.
• Apple Press Release – September 2025 – Official announcement of the iPhone 17 lineup (to be posted on Apple’s newsroom).

Stay tuned for the official reveal, as Apple’s design decisions will likely ripple across the entire industry, influencing how future smartphones balance cutting‑edge performance with sleek aesthetics.