“iPhone 17 Pro Stuns and Splits Crowd on Launch Day: Has Apple Gone Too Far in Design?”

Apple Pulls Back the Curtain

On 10 September 2025, Apple announced its new products at its "Awe Dropping" event, unveiling the iPhone 17 line-up alongside new Apple Watches and the third-gen AirPods Pro. The new gear is expected to hit the Indian and international markets on 19 September.

What’s New in the iPhone 17 Series

The main features include:

• iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air.

• All devices would be coming with iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence — the brand’s push into on-device AI with more intelligent messaging, image recognition, translation, and so on.

• The camera system on the Pro models specifically is a three-lens one, comprising a wide-angle, ultra-wide, and a redesigned telephoto lens — all 48MP “Fusion” cameras.”

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Netizens: Praise, Jokes, and Lash-Outs

Where there is a new Apple release, memes follow like a tide — and the 17 Pro is no exception. The new design was amusing for some users who drew comparisons between the cartoon eyes and the new model or imagined it to be the gaze of a mouse.

But the criticism of the design is far wider. One user called the 17 Pro “the ugliest iPhone ever,” and added provocatively that “Steve Jobs would have fired everyone in his era.”

While bashing critics only, there were also some supporters: a couple of fans explained the product by asking the critics if they had even used a “good Android,” whereas others praised the appearance and the progress in performance.

Affordability Concerns Surface

It’s not only the looks that get criticism. A lot of people seem to have accepted that the iPhone 17 is probably going to cost so high that the average buyer won’t be able to afford it — with the joke going around that they will have to wait for years just to buy one.

What Happens Next?

The day of the release is 19 September, and Apple is relying on having great features and its loyal customers to make a successful launch. Nevertheless, the company is confronted with a question: is it possible that the daring designs win over the critics without causing the fans to be upset? Time will tell whether the iPhone 17 Pro will be the right or the wrong move in Apple’s design heritage.