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iPhone 17 camera: The biggest camera upgrade in a while

by wellnessfitpro
written by wellnessfitpro

Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone 17 lineup, and the cameras play a central role once again. The standard iPhone 17 gets an upgraded ultrawide camera, the new iPhone Air trims things down to a single rear camera, and the iPhone 17 Pro models step up with a redesigned camera module housing three 48 MP cameras.

iPhone 17 camera: 48 MP ultrawide and a revamped front camera

Image credit — Apple - iPhone 17 camera: The biggest camera upgrade in a whileImage credit — Apple - iPhone 17 camera: The biggest camera upgrade in a while

Image credit — Apple

The iPhone 17 keeps the familiar 48 MP main camera with 2x digital zoom, but this year Apple has upgraded the ultrawide from 12 MP to 48 MP. We assume it has the same sensor used on the Pro models, which means double the resolution (defaulting to 24 MP) and improved macro photography, since the higher-resolution ultrawide also handles close-up shots.

On the front, Apple introduces a completely redesigned camera system called Center Stage. It uses a square sensor, Apple’s largest yet for a selfie camera, to support both portrait and landscape shots without having to rotate the phone. It can automatically expand the field of view when more people enter the frame, and photos reach up to 18 MP.

Video with the new selfie camera also benefits from stabilization improvements, borrowing technology from Action mode.

iPhone 17 Air camera: 48 MP wide and 18 MP front camera

The thinnest iPhone ever, the iPhone 17 Air, adopts a single 48 MP rear camera that doubles as a 2x telephoto, just like every other iPhone with this camera. It also defaults to 24 MP, has updated Portraits with Focus control, and custom 28mm and 35mm framing options. On the front, the Air also features the new camera system with the same multi-composition tricks and support for simultaneous front and rear recording through the new Dual Capture video.

iPhone 17 Air official camera samples:

iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max: Triple 48 MP cameras and extended telephoto

The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max move to an all-48MP triple-camera system. Each rear sensor is 48MP, including a new Telephoto camera housed in the extended plateau design.

  • Telephoto: Offers 4x zoom at 100mm and a longer 8x zoom at 200mm, supported by a new tetraprism design and a larger sensor with improved stabilization. Digital zoom now reaches up to 40x for photos.
  • Main and Ultra Wide: Updated pipelines aim to capture finer detail and improve results across lighting conditions.
  • Front camera: An 18 MP selfie camera provides higher resolution, a wider field of view, and more flexible framing for both photos and video.

Pro Video Features

The Pro models continue to support Dolby Vision HDR, 4K120, and ProRes Log, but Apple has added ProRes RAW capture too. Support for Genlock is also new, enabling precise synchronization when using multiple cameras. These tools are aimed at professional content creators, including the new (for iPhone) Dual Capture video for recording with both front and rear cameras simultaneously.

Apple has not announced 8K recording, and standard video frame rate details beyond 4K60 were not listed for the base iPhone 17.

iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max official camera samples:

Software Improvements and Computational Photography

Apple highlighted updates to its image processing pipeline and next-generation Portraits with Focus control.

The updated Portrait mode now lets you change the focus point after capture, works on more subjects including pets and objects, and delivers better results in low light thanks to deeper integration with the Photonic Engine. Depth information is captured automatically whenever the camera detects a person, pet, or similar subject, so you can decide to apply the portrait effect later even if you didn’t switch modes.

The front camera system introduces AI-assisted auto-expand and auto-rotate framing for group selfies. iOS 26 also brings refinements in HDR, skin tones, and low-light performance.

iPhone 17 and the PhoneArena Camera Score test: Our expectations

The iPhone 16 series was a strong performer in our Camera Score tests, especially in video, though some rivals were ahead when it came to photos. With the iPhone 17 upgrading both rear cameras to 48 MP and debuting a new front camera, we expect a clear boost in the overall rating.For the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, the addition of a new 48 MP telephoto sensor with extended 8x zoom and new video-related features should push performance even further.

We’ll update our evaluation after testing, but early impressions suggest Apple has worked to broaden and balance camera performance across all lenses, making the experience feel more consistent between the base and Pro models.


Aleksandar is a tech enthusiast with a broad range of interests, from smartphones to space exploration. His curiosity extends to hands-on DIY experiments with his gadgets, and he enjoys switching between different brands to experience the latest innovations. Prior to joining PhoneArena, Aleksandar worked on the Google Art Project, digitizing valuable artworks and gaining diverse perspectives on technology. When he’s not immersed in tech, Aleksandar is an outdoorsman who enjoys mountain hikes, wildlife photography, and nature conservation. His interests also extend to martial arts, running, and snowboarding, reflecting his dynamic approach to life and technology.

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