iPhone 17 and 'iPhone 17 Air' Expected to Lack 5x Optical Zoom Lens

[MacRumors]

Next year's iPhone 17 and all-new "iPhone 17 Air" will not have a 5x optical zoom lens, according to Korean publication The Elec (via 9to5Mac).

The report said the tetraprism camera system that enables 5x optical zoom will remain exclusive to the Pro models in next year's iPhone lineup, meaning that it would only be available on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Of course, with the iPhone 17 Air expected to be very thin, this is no surprise.

In the iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max, the tetraprism camera system has a "folded" design that allows it to fit inside the smartphones, enabling up to 5x optical zoom and up to 25x digital zoom on those devices. The smaller iPhone 15 Pro, the iPhone 14 Pro, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max are limited to up to 3x optical zoom.

The standard iPhone 16 offers up to 2x optical-quality zoom, so the iPhone 17 should too at a minimum. However, zoom specifications for the iPhone 17 Air are still unclear, as the device is rumored to feature only a single 48-megapixel rear camera.

iPhone 17 Air rumors have been a mixed bag so far. The device could become the thinnest iPhone ever, but some of its specifications will seemingly be lacking compared to the Pro models, which will make for a tough purchasing decision. In other words, if you want the cool new iPhone with the thin, new design, there will be tradeoffs.

There have been conflicting rumors about the iPhone 17 Air's design and specifications, but most sources have agreed that it will have around a 6.6-inch display. In July, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said he expects the device to have a standard A19 chip, a Dynamic Island, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G modem.

That means the iPhone 17 Air would have quite a large display, but the 6.9-inch iPhone 17 Pro Max would still be larger. With an A19 chip, the device would certainly be performant, but the iPhone 17 Pro models will get a superior A19 Pro chip. A single camera would put the device on the same tier as the iPhone SE for photography.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Air could be one of the first devices with an Apple-designed 5G modem, but it is unclear if it will have any obvious consumer benefits over the Qualcomm modems that are expected to be used for iPhone 17 Pro models. Nevertheless, Apple's cellular future will debut in this device rather than the flagship Pro models.

It's still early, so we should learn a lot more about the iPhone 17 Air over the coming months.

Article Link: iPhone 17 and 'iPhone 17 Air' Expected to Lack 5x Optical Zoom Lens

 

[sniffies]

Makes sense. After all, it's Air, not Pro.

 

[MayaUser]

17 air is understandable , physics

 

[Cirillo Gherardo]

Have to assume that this product is Apple's new approach to spicing up the entry level models, which are largely unattractive. Because nothing else really makes sense. A new mix and match of features that enables an ultra portable iPhone, to appeal to the mass market.

 

[Slix]

iPod touch 8th generation.

 

[N0ughtsAndCr0sses]

Anyone care to enlighten me what the idea behind the 17 air is?

I don’t find a place for it even if it’s a niche element of the iPhone esque line up

 

[jjrich1995]

I do not see what hole in the lineup this fills....

 

[AppleWarMachine]

i guess it's good if you're looking for a phone with less features and a thinner battery and have to charge your battery by lunchtime

 

[ss2cire]

As others have said, it makes sense. Overall it's a marketing thing, gotta make those pro models look and feel better.
Though I tend to go with the Pro Max models anyway since I like the larger screen size.

 

[klasma]

Have to assume that this product is Apple's new approach to spicing up the entry level models, which are largely unattractive. Because nothing else really makes sense. A new mix and match of features that enables an ultra portable iPhone, to appeal to the mass market.

It would make sense to have a different “special interest” phone in the lineup each year, to catch more of the long tail, spread over the years.

 

[mitchferrino]

I’d pay literally anything for a pro iPhone without a GD camera bump.

I hate it so much. At the very least make it centered & rectangular so the phone doesn’t rattle back and forth when typing on it when it’s laying flat.

It feels like the most un-Apple design choice.

 

[ab2c4]

While I like the idea of the Air a lot since I am one of those that don't like heavy phones, it will still have the same tired boring design as the 12 through 16, just slimmer and lighter. I would like to see something new from apple and I want the flat sides gone.

 

[Biro]

Given that I’m happy with my 15 Plus, the 17 Air will probably be fine for me. But I’ll be watching battery life and price.

 

[PsykX]

I have a 16 Pro and I'm a bit mixed with the 5x lens. Sometimes it's awesome, especially for Portraits, but sometimes I don't want to zoom as much and was used to my 3x lens.

Can I still zoom at 3x with my 16 Pro ? Of course. But this is a digital zoom, not an optical one. I end up losing some quality.

Might sound crazy, but I think they could have added a 5x or 10x lens instead, next to the 3x, or use a variable zoom (which anybody know would end up being a failing part in the iPhone though...)

 

[Supermallet]

Have to assume that this product is Apple's new approach to spicing up the entry level models, which are largely unattractive. Because nothing else really makes sense. A new mix and match of features that enables an ultra portable iPhone, to appeal to the mass market.

The entry level models are attractive for people who want a great phone at a reasonable price. The Pro models are overkill for most people and unnecessary. Apple has been very good at trickling down the tech from the Pro models to the base models year over year. Of course some features remain exclusive to the Pro models because Apple wants people to feel the FOMO and spend more money, but really the base models are what most people should go for.

We're outliers, we're so interested in tech and in Apple in particular that we signed up to post on an Apple-centric message board. By default we do not represent the average Apple consumer.

 

[Rogifan]

What is the point of this alleged iPhone Air other than it’s really thin? Who is it for?

 

[Cirillo Gherardo]

It would make sense to have a different “special interest” phone in the lineup each year, to catch more of the long tail, spread over the years.

There are already too many models in every product line.

 

[GabrielMoro]

I have a 16 Pro and I'm a bit mixed with the 5x lens. Sometimes it's awesome, especially for Portraits, but sometimes I don't want to zoom as much and was used to my 3x lens.

Can I still zoom at 3x with my 16 Pro ? Of course. But this is a digital zoom, not an optical one. I end up losing some quality.

Might sound crazy, but I think they could have added a 5x or 10x lens instead, next to the 3x, or use a variable zoom (which anybody know would end up being a failing part in the iPhone though...)

I actually miss my 2x on the iPhone X...

 

[ThailandToo]

I would prefer a 48mp ultra-wide sensor. I want to be able to zoom in digitally and at 48mp it works. The problem has been 12mp sensors for so long.

As far as other wants. All-day battery. Display that has nothing but a hole-punch camera cutout. They can use software to show stuff like a Dynamic Island but not needed. Super thin sounds nice, but carbon fiber lightweight sounds better than thin. More than anything want TouchID if FaceID cannot be without notch/island. I want an uninterrupted display more than anything else. The hole punch is all I want at very most. Android flagships have done it for years and it’s such a better viewing experience. I would do without FaceTime or heck put a small display on the back with just the back camera to line up selfies or FaceTime calls. One camera. Not two or four.

I don’t care about gaming. I don’t care about AI. Heck, if Apple built a front lit epaper display that would be great for me. Not eInk. There is a computer company called Daylight Computers that I think are headed in the right direction for what we need. Not backlit but front lit like a Paperwhite Kindle. Not saying eliminate the colors just eliminate the flashlight in our eyes feeling.

I know none of this is what sells as it’s not flashy, but what should sell is what’s better for our eye health and stop the dopamine from vibrant bright colors. We all need to be healthy. Tim can preach the environment all he wants but Apple really does what makes shareholders money. I get that’s what companies do. I just wish there were options for health as that’s just as important as the environment.

 

[Black.Infinity]

I don’t see this product last more than 2-3 generations before canceling it because of low sales

 

[paradox00]

It’s most likely going to take the spot in the lineup that the 17 plus would have occupied, so of course there will be no 5x optical. The only question is whether it gets the ultrawide in addition to the main camera, and rumors point to no.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

How is this not the new SE, given it has one camera?

 

[Plerf]

I do wonder why Apple doesn’t make a iPhone Phat-Ass with a battery strong enough for something like a 2-3 day charge.

Or any major smartphone manufacturer, really.

 

[klasma]

There are already too many models in every product line.

I wasn’t saying increase the number of models. The 17 Air will be replacing the 17 Plus, and they could have a differently oriented model each year in that slot.

 

[winxmac]

Apple should bring back the rounded sides for 6" 19.5:9 screen and larger but keep flat sides for anything below 6" 19.5:9 screen

They should bring back the iPhone 6/6s/7/8 Plus form factor but with bigger battery capacity...

They should also go back to bigger battery but no camera bump... For the 3 camera iPhone, iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max has the smallest camera bump that it is almost laying flat on a table unlike newer iPhone models that have significant gap between the table and the iPhone...