Upgraded camera features may be in store for the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro
The much-anticipated iPhone 17 Pro is set to make waves in the mobile photography world, with rumours of a significant upgrade to its camera system.
According to reports, the iPhone 17 Pro will feature an upgraded telephoto lens with a 8x optical zoom, a notable improvement over the iPhone 16 Pro's 5x optical zoom. This moving lens design allows for continuous zoom at various focal lengths, offering users a more versatile photography experience.
In addition, the iPhone 17 Pro is expected to boast a 48MP telephoto sensor and a 24MP front camera upgrade. A mechanical aperture feature is also rumoured, providing users with more granular control over photo capture.
When compared to other flagship competitors, the iPhone 17 Pro's 8x optical zoom is a notable jump, but slightly less than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Huawei Pura 80 Ultra, which typically push beyond 8x (up to 10x or higher) using dual or periscope telephoto lenses.
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, known for combining multiple telephoto lenses for quality zoom and zoom versatility, is expected to offer high zoom reserves, generally around 10x optical zoom. The Huawei Pura 80 Ultra, on the other hand, is known for its periscope telephoto designs, delivering strong zoom capabilities with up to 9.4x optical zoom.
Google Pixel 9 Pro and Oppo Find X8 Ultra are expected to offer zoom roughly in a similar range, often up to 5x to 10x, though Google historically has a lower optical zoom but offsets that with computational enhancement.
Apple's innovation in moving the lens for continuous zoom and integrating a dedicated pro camera app may improve usability and image quality in zoom modes beyond just hardware specs.
All leaks point to a large camera bump at the back of the iPhone 17 Pro, suggesting a possible major upgrade for the imaging hardware. The iPhone 17 Air, on the other hand, is expected to be an uber-slim model.
The report about the iPhone 17 Pro's camera upgrade comes from Macrumors, which cites an unnamed source. The iPhone 17 Pro's camera app is also anticipated to compete with popular apps like Halide and Kino in the "mobigrapher" community, and it's expected to allow simultaneous capture by the front and rear cameras, designed for vlogging.
With these exciting developments, the iPhone 17 Pro is shaping up to be a strong contender for long-range photo and video capture, offering a blend of hardware and software advancements. Stay tuned for more updates as we delve deeper into the features and capabilities of the iPhone 17 Pro.
The iPhone 17 Pro, with its anticipated upgrades in camera system, will seem appealing not only for mobile photography enthusiasts but also for those interested in fashion-and-beauty or lifestyle content, as the improved zoom capabilities and camera app could enhance selfie and vlogging experiences. Furthermore, tech-savvy individuals who prize gadgets and smartphones will likely appreciate the advanced technology embedded in the iPhone 17 Pro, such as the upgraded telephoto lens and 48MP telephoto sensor.
