Home » How-to » Where is microphone on iPhone 17, 17 Pro (Pro Max) & 17 Air
🗓️ September 11, 2025, By ✍️ Karly Wood
Here’s a detailed breakdown of where the microphones are located on the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Air — their positions, what they’re for, and some tips.
Overview: Microphones in Recent iPhones
Apple typically includes multiple microphones in its modern iPhones. These serve different functions:
Capturing your voice when speaking normally or during phone/video callsRecording audio when shooting video (front & rear)Noise reduction / wind suppressionAmbient sound capture (e.g. for spatial audio, stereo recording, etc.)
The exact placement of these mics can vary a little between models, but iPhones since around the XS/11 era have had four mics in total: bottom edge(s), front (near the earpiece), back (near the camera array), etc.
Microphone Locations on iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max & 17 Air
While Apple’s documentation doesn’t always list exact dimensions of mic openings or every mic by name, information from official support / teardown sources gives a picture. Below are the likely mic locations for these models, which are very similar across base, Pro, and Pro Max and Air versions (with minor variations):
MicrophoneProbable locationPurpose / CommentsBottom micOn the bottom edge of the phone, near the USB-C port (likely one grille or small hole here)Used for regular phone calls, voice memos, Siri when speaking normally etc.Front / earpiece micNear the top of the front side, integrated around the speaker/earpiece/sensor arrayUsed during phone calls (when held to ear), for front-facing video/audio capture, voice-assist etc.Rear micAround the rear camera module — likely a small hole/pinhole near the lenses or flush into the camera barFor capturing sound when video recording with the back cameras, also for ambient/noise cancelation. The leaks for 17 Pro explicitly say a rear microphone is included in the camera bar.Specific Notes for iPhone 17 / 17 Pro / Pro Max / 17 AirNumber of mics: As with Apple’s recent Pro phones, there are multiple microphones (likely 3-4) to ensure high-quality stereo & noise suppressed recordings. The Pro / Pro Max models often have better electronics or better mic hardware (for example, improved signal-to-noise, more robust wind noise suppression) than base models.In the iFixit guide for iPhone 17, the primary mic is one of three in the phone. There is a mic tied to the charging port assembly, and then another tied to the power button assembly.The bottom mic was measured for its frequency response in iPhone 17 Pro – its positioning (to one side of the USB-C port) affects directivity: for sounds coming from certain angles, it picks better when the sound is near that side.Why Knowing the Mic Locations MattersIf you cover one mic (e.g. with a case, hand, or flag), sound quality / clarity can suffer.For video recording, knowing which rear mic is used helps in orienting the phone so voices or intended sounds are captured well.Helps in troubleshooting: if certain mics are blocked (debris, dust), tests (voice memo, camera) can narrow down which mic is problematic.
If you like, I can pull up a diagram showing exactly where the mic holes are for the three models so that visually you can see them. Do you want that?