One of the first cases for the iPhone 17 has made its appearance. Canadian tech accessory company Dbrand announced its Tank Case for the iPhone 17 is set to go on sale in September, the same month we’re expecting Apple to announce the eagerly awaited iPhone 17.
While we don’t know the price of the Tank Case yet, Dbrand has certainly made some striking design choices in the hard black shell case, including plenty of number codes, the Freemason Eye of Providence in what looks like a center designed for MagSafe connections and what appears to be Braille. Dbrand is light on details for now, but you can sign up with your email address to get notifications about the case.
A representative for Dbrand did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Patrick Holland, CNET managing editor and mobile guru, cautions that these early-announced phone designs don’t always end up making it to the release date. Holland saw that happen just last year, when some manufacturers were forced to push quick redesigns to make room for the iPhone 16’s surprise camera control button.
“It’s become a yearly tradition,” Holland said. “We see companies try to be the first out with a new case design for the latest iPhone, even though the phone hasn’t been announced by Apple.”
“For Dbrand, it’s unclear whether the Tank case is designed based on rumors, or if the company got an early look at the iPhone 17 series, or were given a dummy model,” Holland said. “The case does feature a full body width camera bump that has been heavily leaked for the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. There’s one thing that’s for certain: Dbrand’s Tank case looks chunky and busy, especially for a sleek new iPhone.”
That’s why we’re also keeping a close eye on all the latest reports of iPhone 17 features, including rumors of a redesigned camera bump and a movable lens that could throw a curveball for third-party cases like this.
Social media buzz
Commenters on X shared a variety of opinions about the case. While one person wrote, “that case looks fire,” another wrote, “that case looks hideous.”
Commenters also wondered if the case design was revealing some previously unknown details about the iPhone 17.
“So the second button is basically confirmed?” one X commenter wrote. “Why would the case sport an area that looks pressable or ‘slideable’ otherwise?”
Another wrote, “Am I seeing that correctly? Three cameras on a base iPhone model finally.”
Others zeroed in on the idea that Apple likely does not want case manufacturers to reveal details about a phone before the company announces it, noting that Dbrand also unveiled a case for the Nintendo Switch 2 before that console came out.
“First the Switch 2, now the iPhone 17,” the one commenter wrote. “Yeahh, they’re never getting shit early to make cases anymore.”
