Apple will make significant changes to the smartphone camera system.
iPhone 17 Pro will get an 8x zoom telephoto lens, a super app, and a new button.
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Apple may be preparing the most significant upgrade to its smartphone camera system. MacRumors has shared new information about the flagship devices. According to the source, they have seen an unreleased promotional video from the Slovenian film company Division Film, which Apple is an official client of.
According to insider data, the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will receive at least three important changes related to their technical features, software, and camera controls. RBC Life has examined all the most important details about these new devices, which are expected to be released in September 2025.
Telephoto lens with 8x optical zoom
The main innovation will be the introduction of an advanced telephoto lens with 8x optical zoom support. This will be a significant improvement over the 5x zoom sensor on the current iPhone 16 Pro Max, providing users with more options for capturing distant subjects. Additionally, the source suggests that the new lens will offer continuous zoom at different focal lengths, bringing smartphone capabilities closer to those of DSLR cameras.
Earlier it was reported that the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will get three rear cameras of 48 MP each, while the main and telescopic sensors use a new hybrid system of glass and plastic lenses. Plus to all, the flagship models of Apple smartphones will be equipped with a new 24-megapixel front camera, which will replace the former 12-megapixel sensor.
Branded professional shooting app
Another important change should be a new special application for professional shooting of Apple’s own development. It will open access to an expanded list of all kinds of tools for creating photo and video content, and will also serve as an alternative to such third-party programs like Halide, Filmic Pro and Kino.
This rumor indirectly confirms the information of Bloomberg columnist Mark Gurman, who previously wrote that in 2025, Apple will focus on improving video recording capabilities. According to the expert, such a move should encourage vloggers and other creators of videos to abandon the use of separate cameras in favor of the new iPhone 17 Pro, which will become more versatile.
Finally, one important software innovation for future Apple smartphones was talked about by the host of the YouTube channel Front Page Tech, John Prosser, who said that users of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will be able to record video simultaneously on the front and rear cameras. At the moment, this possibility is provided in some third-party applications available in the App Store, however, a similar feature will now appear in the built-in Camera application. The ability to record videos in two dimensions will be useful for content creators on popular platforms like YouTube and TikTok, allowing them to seamlessly overlay their faces on the main video, so viewers can observe their reactions and emotions.
Second button to control the camera
The third change, according to MacRumors, will be the introduction of another button for controlling the camera. According to the source, the button will appear on the top edge of the smartphone, but its exact purpose is still unknown. Additionally, this information contradicts rumors that Apple is aiming to gradually eliminate physical controls on its devices in favor of touch-sensitive surfaces. In 2027, Apple is expected to release an iPhone with a fully glass unibody without any buttons.
On top of that, many users were skeptical about the appearance of the Camera Control key on the iPhone 16, calling it far from the most convenient, so the possibility of a second similar button seems questionable.
In addition to the above-mentioned improvements, MacRumors reports that the iPhone 17 Pro will receive some design changes, including a new copper color and the relocation of Apple’s signature logo to the center of the back panel.
As previously reported, the key external difference between the iPhone 17 Pro and its predecessor will be a full-size rectangular main camera module that will cover almost the entire width of the back of the device, replacing the previous square module. As before, the three main camera lenses will be located on the left side of the smartphone, but the LED flash, microphone, and LiDAR laser sensor will be moved to the right edge.