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Over the past few months, social media has been flooded with leaked images showcasing a redesigned iPhone 17 Pro duo and an extremely slim iPhone 17 Air. However, these upcoming Apple flagship phones might also introduce several new features that will excite photography enthusiasts.
According to a report from MacRumors, citing an unnamed source, the iPhone 17 Pro is expected to feature an upgraded 8x optical zoom camera. For comparison, the current iPhone 16 Pro models are limited to 5x optical zoom.
Apple is raising the bar
When compared to competitors, Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra and Google Pixel 9 Pro top out at 5x optical zoom. In the fiercely competitive Asian smartphone market, Oppo’s Find X8 Ultra offers up to 6x zoom, while Huawei’s Pura 80 Ultra boasts an impressive 9.4x optical zoom.
The leaked images suggest a significant camera bump at the back of the iPhone 17 Pro, hinting at a major upgrade to its imaging system. The report mentions that the lens appears to be able to move, enabling continuous optical zoom at varying focal lengths—an exciting development for mobile photography. If these rumors prove accurate, the iPhone 17 Pro could become one of the best devices for long-range photo and video capturing, thanks to its advanced hardware. Whether Apple will upgrade to a tetraprism design for the telephoto lens remains to be seen.
A true photography powerhouse
Previous leaks also predict a triple 48-megapixel camera layout for the iPhone 17 Pro, with support for 8K video recording. There’s also buzz about a mechanical aperture feature that would give users more precise control over exposure settings—adding a professional touch to mobile photography.
The camera app might see a complete overhaul with this release, potentially focusing on advanced features and more in-depth controls. Currently, apps like Halide and Kino dominate the community of serious mobile photographers, so it’ll be interesting to see what new capabilities Apple introduces to stand out in this space.
In addition, the new model could support simultaneous capture from both the front and rear cameras, a feature tailor-made for vloggers. While not a groundbreaking innovation—since Samsung has been offering this on Galaxy phones for years—it’s a welcome addition for content creators.
Overall, if the leaks are correct, the iPhone 17 Pro promises to deliver significant improvements that could make it a top choice for photography and videography. The potential hardware and software upgrades suggest Apple is aiming to solidify its reputation in mobile imaging technology.