Recently, there are rumors that Apple’s official iPhone 17 phone case will add a lanyard function. Following the news revealed by whistleblower Majin Bu, another well-known tipster DuanRui also shared a CAD drawing of an alleged iPhone 17 Pro case, which shows two lanyard holes in the bottom corners.
DuanRui's revelations attracted a lot of attention online, as this isn't the first time Apple has added a lanyard design to its products. For example, the AirPods Pro 2 charging case has an opening for a lanyard. While Apple doesn't offer its own AirPods Pro 2 lanyard, it sells a variety of third-party options through its online store. Likewise, the iPhone 17 lanyard is likely to be manufactured by a third party and sold separately.
Additionally, the fifth generation **iPod touch** once had a built-in lanyard mounting mechanism that didn't even require a case. This precedent adds credibility to rumors that the iPhone 17 case will support lanyards.
This change may be related to Apple positioning the iPhone as a more professional photography device. Like many professional cameras, a lanyard prevents the phone from accidentally slipping while taking photos or recording videos.
It’s worth noting that DuanRui’s information often comes from the Chinese social media platform Weibo. Although these rumors are not officially confirmed, two independent tipsters mentioned this feature at the same time, which greatly increases its credibility.
What do you think about the iPhone 17 case supporting lanyard functionality? Do you think this is a useful feature?