"iPhone 17 Pro Max is ready" - alleged assembly line image shows design Apple is going with

Surely, the cavities in the part are where you would expect the updated iPhone 17 Pro Max to have holes or pockets for components such as the cameras and charging elements such as the MagSafe coil.

MacRumors believes this picture might have been taken on an assembly line. The outlet has concluded that the image shows "CNC-machined aluminum or titanium chassis components" for the phone. This means that the parts might have been produced using Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining. If that's indeed the case, these structural components are ready for the next processing stages, such as additional machining or coating.

AppleInsider has a different take. The publication has not questioned the authenticity of the image but suggests the plates might be meant for case production and are not iPhone 17 Pro Max components.

While you may be inclined to believe that the circular openings align with the rumored iPhone 17 Pro Max design and reach the conclusion that the image depicts phone plates, two elements point against that.

Firstly, for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple didn't use full-body frames and instead went for partial plates that didn't cover the entire body. Secondly, the leaked parts have protruding elements around the cutouts, which won't work with the final design. The iPhone's design doesn't have enough room for these extruded elements. 

Thus, these images may showcase the molds that will be used by case makers.

On the other hand, Apple might use post processing techniques to smooth out the raised parts, but that's just my mind running wild.

Whether these are iPhone 17 Pro Max components or a case mold, the image is another indication that the phone will have a new back design.