Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 lineup is poised to bring major camera innovations across all models, according to industry insiders. Here's what we know about the camera upgrades expected in late 2025.
Front Camera Gets Major Boost
All iPhone 17 models will feature an upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing camera, doubling the resolution from the current 12-megapixel sensor. This enhancement promises better selfies with improved detail and low-light performance.
iPhone 17 Pro Models Lead Innovation
The Pro and Pro Max variants will showcase three 48-megapixel cameras:
- Main Fusion lens
- Ultra Wide lens
- New Tetraprism Telephoto lens
This triple 48MP setup enables enhanced zoom capabilities without quality loss. The Pro models may also introduce 8K video recording and dual video capture, allowing simultaneous recording from front and rear cameras.
Design Overhaul
The Pro models will feature a redesigned horizontal camera bar spanning the device's width, replacing the traditional square camera bump. While the lens arrangement remains triangular, the flash, microphone, and LiDAR sensor will shift to the right end of the bar.
iPhone 17 Air: Slim but Limited
The new iPhone 17 Air prioritizes thinness at just 5.5mm, housing a single 48-megapixel Fusion camera. This model adopts a similar horizontal camera bar design but scaled down for its single lens setup.
Base iPhone 17 Stays Traditional
The standard iPhone 17 maintains its familiar vertical dual-camera layout with a 48-megapixel Fusion lens and 12-megapixel Ultra Wide lens, skipping the new horizontal bar design.
Mechanical Aperture
Reports suggest the Pro models might introduce variable mechanical aperture control, allowing users to adjust light intake and depth-of-field - a first for iPhone cameras.
The iPhone 17 lineup demonstrates Apple's continued focus on camera innovation, particularly in the Pro models, while introducing meaningful upgrades across the entire range.