Jenith
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As a Samsung fan who observes the competition, I must admit that I am a little more fascinated than usual with Apple's latest iPhones, specifically the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air variants.
I wouldn't trade my Samsung Galaxy device for either of those iPhone models, but I appreciate one thing they both seem to be doing — at least, in theory. They seem to be bridging the gap between the exterior and software design.
Whether by pure luck or driven by a clear vision, the iPhone 17's camera hump and iPhone Air's camera plateau seemingly hint at the most striking (and controversial) aspect of iOS 26. These camera housings remind me of Liquid Glass, or, at the very least, the frosted effect across Apple's mobile OS.
https://www.imeisource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/iphone-17-camera-liquid-glass.png
https://www.imeisource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/iPhone-air-camera-liquid-glass.png
Image credit: Apple
I'm not sure if this was Apple's intention, considering that the iPhone 16 also had a similar camera housing before Liquid Glass was introduced. And especially considering that the iPhone 17 Pro's camera plateau lacks this distinctive Liquid Glass/frosted design cue altogether.
Clearly, there are some inconsistencies in Apple's design across the 2025 iPhone lineup. Nevertheless, I can't help but think about iOS 26's Liquid Glass whenever I see the iPhone 17 or iPhone Air's camera housing/plateau. And that's something I can appreciate in theory.
Rarely do we see a connection between a phone's exterior design and the software's design language. But whether by coincidence or not, these two Apple devices have somewhat connected the two to a degree.
I think both the iPhone 17 and the iPhone Air could have pulled it off better than they have, but I love the concept. The idea that the UI should share something with the exterior design is unique and, I think, should be explored more deeply.
Next year, Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S26 flagships may feature camera housings similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 7's. So even though we can assume the S26 series won't look bad, it won't feel all that special. I, for one, can't find a connection between the Fold 7's camera housing design and One UI. I wish I could.
In the end, I don't think I like Apple's execution as much as I like the idea behind it. The glass effect could've probably been done better and more consistently across the entire iPhone 17 lineup. But the idea, intentional or not, is fascinating, and I hope Samsung will extract a valuable lesson from it.
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The post I don’t want an iPhone 17/Air, but this design concept has me curious appeared first on imeisource.
I wouldn't trade my Samsung Galaxy device for either of those iPhone models, but I appreciate one thing they both seem to be doing — at least, in theory. They seem to be bridging the gap between the exterior and software design.
Whether by pure luck or driven by a clear vision, the iPhone 17's camera hump and iPhone Air's camera plateau seemingly hint at the most striking (and controversial) aspect of iOS 26. These camera housings remind me of Liquid Glass, or, at the very least, the frosted effect across Apple's mobile OS.
https://www.imeisource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/iphone-17-camera-liquid-glass.png
https://www.imeisource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/iPhone-air-camera-liquid-glass.png
Image credit: Apple
I'm not sure if this was Apple's intention, considering that the iPhone 16 also had a similar camera housing before Liquid Glass was introduced. And especially considering that the iPhone 17 Pro's camera plateau lacks this distinctive Liquid Glass/frosted design cue altogether.
Clearly, there are some inconsistencies in Apple's design across the 2025 iPhone lineup. Nevertheless, I can't help but think about iOS 26's Liquid Glass whenever I see the iPhone 17 or iPhone Air's camera housing/plateau. And that's something I can appreciate in theory.
Rarely do we see a connection between a phone's exterior design and the software's design language. But whether by coincidence or not, these two Apple devices have somewhat connected the two to a degree.
I think both the iPhone 17 and the iPhone Air could have pulled it off better than they have, but I love the concept. The idea that the UI should share something with the exterior design is unique and, I think, should be explored more deeply.
Next year, Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S26 flagships may feature camera housings similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 7's. So even though we can assume the S26 series won't look bad, it won't feel all that special. I, for one, can't find a connection between the Fold 7's camera housing design and One UI. I wish I could.
In the end, I don't think I like Apple's execution as much as I like the idea behind it. The glass effect could've probably been done better and more consistently across the entire iPhone 17 lineup. But the idea, intentional or not, is fascinating, and I hope Samsung will extract a valuable lesson from it.
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