What does the 'plateau' horizontal camera cluster reveal about Apple's future products?

The new horizontal camera bar on the iPhone Air isn't just a visual highlight. It could become key to Apple's disruptive product strategy in the years to come.

Controversial design, foundation for the future

When pre-event rumors suggested the iPhone 17 series would come with a “plateau” horizontal camera cluster, many people – including those in the tech industry – expressed concern.

The horizontal 'plateau' camera cluster design on the iPhone Air. Photo: Apple

At that time, the information was only based on leaked renders and CAD files, leading many to think that Apple was just "pretending", enlarging the camera cluster to create the feeling that the rest of the body was thinner.

The reality is quite the opposite.

As CEO Tim Cook emphasized at the “Awe Dropping” event on September 9, Apple’s philosophy has always been: “Design is how it works” – design must operate smoothly, enrich the experience, not just be eye-catching but lack functionality.

Video Apple introduces the super thin iPhone Air with a horizontal 'plateau' camera cluster design.

With the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro, the “plateau” is more than just a horizontal camera bar. It also houses a number of additional components to enhance performance, while also allowing the body to remain impressively thin while maintaining a significant battery capacity.

In other words, Apple has created a technical solution that is both aesthetically pleasing and offers practical benefits – something rarely seen in the smartphone industry, which has been driven by form for years.

Though it’s a small detail, the “plateau” could have a big impact on Apple’s next products. In the iPhone Air, this raised area houses not only the camera cluster, but also the chip and many other important modules. This allows the main body of the device to have more space for a larger battery, making the iPhone Air the thinnest iPhone ever – and one of the thinnest smartphones on the market – while still ensuring all-day battery life.

Additionally, the “plateau” also acts as a natural heat sink. With its increased surface area, it acts as a built-in heatsink, helping to dissipate heat better. This is especially important because high temperatures often cause battery life to decline. Thanks to this, the new design not only increases performance but also prolongs the durability of the device.

The ability to be thin, light, powerful, and have a long battery life is the foundation for Apple to prepare to enter new fields. And one of the most anticipated products is the foldable iPhone.

According to multiple sources, the first foldable iPhone will have two screens: a small one on the outside and a large one on the inside that can expand to the size of an iPad mini. However, devices of this type always face a challenge: needing a large battery to power multiple screens without making the device too thick.

Apple has integrated most of the phone's important parts into the camera cluster on the iPhone Air design. Photo: Apple

“Plateau” could be the solution. By freeing up more internal space for the battery, Apple would have an advantage when combined with the ultra-power-efficient Apple Silicon chip. This could give the foldable iPhone an edge over its competitors, which have been experimenting for years but have had limited battery life and durability.

If true, the foldable iPhone will not only be a hardware device, but also be deeply integrated into the iOS ecosystem, supporting iPad-style multitasking, the Apple Pencil, and optimized for a series of Apple applications. This combination promises to create an advantage far beyond the Galaxy Z Fold or other foldable models on the market.

“Plateau” isn’t just useful for the iPhone. The technologies Apple is implementing here could be crucial to its long-awaited secret AR glasses project.

To fit cameras, chips, speakers, and a variety of sensors into a super-compact wearable, Apple needed to shrink and optimize each component. Lessons learned from making the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 series show that Apple has made great strides in compressing component density into a limited space while still ensuring good performance and battery life.

If Apple were to apply this philosophy to AR glasses, it could solve two of its biggest challenges: powerful performance and long battery life in a compact device. This would allow Apple to create smart glasses that are not only fashionable but also truly useful, completely different from the current fledgling AR products.

Apple Technology – from iPhone to Ecosystem

For years, Apple has demonstrated its ability to lead the manufacturing industry: gradually shrinking components, increasing density, while maintaining elegant design. “Plateau” is just the latest example, continuing that journey.

An Apple glasses concept. Photo: iDrop News

The appearance of this design shows that Apple is not only thinking about the current iPhone, but also preparing for future products – from foldable iPhones to AR glasses – that could redefine the way we interact with technology in the next decade.

While foldable iPhones and AR glasses are still a ways off, current users can already experience the benefits of the iPhone 17 series. Longer battery life, thinner design, more stable performance – it all starts with a seemingly small detail: the horizontal camera bar “plateau”.

Apple proves once again that every design change has a reason. The “Plateau” isn’t a visual play, it’s a real technical leap. It makes the iPhone thinner, stronger, and more durable, and it paves the way for the next generation of products: foldable iPhones and AR glasses.

If true, the “plateau” will be remembered as a milestone in Apple’s evolution – from a design detail on the iPhone to a platform for conquering the future of technology.

(According to Macworld, Appleinsider)

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