iPhone 17 Pro Max leak goes viral: Jaw-dropping camera bar steals the show

Sneaky videos are going around purportedly showing early-release iPhone 17s, a few days ahead of the September 9 launch.

A 10-second video, claimed to have been taken straight from the factory floor and splashed across China’s Weibo, has Apple fans buzzing like bees round a honeypot.

The clip is spreading faster than a meme on X: it shows a worker casually lifting a hefty silver iPhone 17 Pro Max from a line-up, flashing a colossal camera bar that stretches cheekily across the phone’s entire top.

Talk about a glow-up.

The footage reveals a redesigned back panel, with the iconic Apple logo sitting pretty at the centre, framed by a sleek, tinted glass panel that’s got everyone in a tizzy.

Another, a 20-second video, is up on X.

It shows a "first look" of the claimed real article (i.e. iPhone 17 Pro Max). The leaker then slides through the iOS interface. For effect, there's a photo of a cross-armed Steve Jobs, Apple's late founder, on the screensaver (to bolster its authenticity?)

The camera island?

It’s giving Google Pixel vibes, packing what looks like three main lenses in a triangular huddle, flanked by smaller sensors (one looks like the LiDAR on the 17 Pro Max).

If true, it’s suggests bold break from Apple’s classic corner bump, and it’s got the tech world in a right tizzy.

But hold your horses — could this be a fake?

With AI-generated videos popping up like dodgy pop-up ads, verifying this clip is trickier than a Rubik’s Cube.

If it’s the real McCoy, though, we’re looking at one of Apple’s gutsiest redesigns ever.

Tim Cook's team, true to form, is keeping mum.

That leaves us to stew until their “Awe Dropping” event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, this Tuesday, where the iPhone 17 lineup is set to strut its stuff.

Whispers from the rumour mill have been banging on about this full-width camera bar for weeks, backed up by case images and accessory gossip.

Sharp-eyed sleuths on X also spotted a large glass panel on the back, wrapping around the Apple logo like a fancy picture frame.

It’s a look that matches recent dummy models and mockups floating about, so the plot thickens.

Colour-wise, the video teases silver, black, and a bronze-like shade peeking out from nearby packaging.

Word on the street suggests Apple’s cooking up fresh Pro colours, including a zesty orange and a posh navy, but we won’t know the full palette until Tim Cook takes the stage on Tuesday.

And don’t forget the wild card: the much-hyped “iPhone 17 Air,” rumoured to be Apple’s skinniest phone yet at a svelte 5.5mm.

If it’s real, expect a slimline stunner with some tough calls on battery life and camera specs.

Price-wise, the grapevine reckons Apple might keep US prices steady, though the smaller Pro could see a slight hike in exchange for more storage.

Citing Jeffries analyst Edison Lee, MacRumors reported that compared to the iPhone 16 models, the iPhone 17 models could see a $50 price bump.

The price increase would mean the following:

(Sources: *MacRumors | **Cashify)

Nothing’s set in stone until Tim spills the beans on stage.

Beyond phones, Apple’s gearing up to unveil new wearables — think Apple Watch Series 11, possibly an Ultra 3, and a spruced-up SE, all with health and battery upgrades in tow.

But here’s the kicker: tech giants like Apple are sly foxes.

They’ve been known to sprinkle fake prototypes and decoy parts into the manufacturing mix to throw leakers and competitors off the scent.

Could this viral video be a clever ruse to keep us guessing?

Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure — this leak has got the internet in a right flap, and we’re counting down the days to Tuesday’s big reveal.