iPhone 17 Pro: New 48MP Telephoto Lens May Change How Zoom Works

[MacRumors]

Apple is reportedly planning a major upgrade to the Telephoto camera in the iPhone 17 Pro, and while it may seem like a step back on paper, the change could actually improve real-world usability, if one leaker's claims are anything to go by.

According to Majin Bu, the iPhone 17 Pro will feature a new Telephoto lens with a 48MP sensor, up from the current 12MP sensor found in the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. This rumor isn't new – in fact it's been repeatedly claimed by several other sources. However, Bu goes further by claiming that the new lens will offer 3.5x optical zoom (85mm equivalent) instead of the 5x zoom (120mm equivalent) currently available.

This focal length is generally better suited for portraits and everyday photography, since it allows users to frame shots without having to move as far away from the subject. However, the big shift allegedly comes from the new 48MP sensor, in that the extra resolution allows for digital cropping to simulate longer focal lengths, offering less quality loss than normal digital zoom.

This is similar to what Apple already does with the main Fusion camera on the iPhone 16, where the 48MP sensor enables a 2x digital crop – marketed as "Telephoto" – that still produces a 12MP image with minimal quality loss.

Bu points out that one of the practical benefits of a 3.5x telephoto lens would be greater versatility, especially for portrait photography. A 3.5x lens would make it easier to compose portraits at more comfortable distances, particularly in indoors or other tight environments.

The alleged change would see Apple relying more on high-resolution sensors and computational processing to replace some of the limitations of traditional optics. If the report is accurate, the iPhone 17 Pro could deliver more flexible zoom options while making portrait photography more user-friendly, without sacrificing image quality.

Given that the iPhone 16 Pro models already have 48MP Fusion and Ultra Wide cameras, the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max could be the first iPhone models to boast a rear triple-camera array made up entirely of 48-megapixel lenses. Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 17 lineup in September.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Pro: New 48MP Telephoto Lens May Change How Zoom Works

 

[sniffies]

That's a gorgeous mockup.

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

😍 PLEASE GIVE US 8K FOR VIDEO RECORDING on the iPhone 17 Ultra Model.

 

[maxolson]

While it might seem like a downgrade, I think a lot of photographers would actually prefer a 3.5x which would equate to an 85mm- a classic portrait length. Double that with the fusion thing and you get 170mm - that much longer reach for certain images. I think this is a good compromise.

 

[ab2c4]

I expect the Pro Max to eventually follow Samsung's Galaxy Ultra with more camera lenses.

 

[User 6502]

This seems like a big downgrade.

 

[jecowa]

More megapixels doesn’t replace optical zooming. Maybe a 3.5x would be useful more often than a 5x, but it seems like a shame to lose the 5x.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Have we just given up on competing with Samsung's 10x optical zoom?

I guess Apple knows their market. Android users want to zoom in on things far away, iPhone users want to take pictures for social media at middle distance.

Apparently?

 

[wave84]

5x is almost useless, it's very rare that you get to use it. Any picture taken between 1x - 4.9x basically uses the main 1x camera, which is probably 99.9% of all pictures.

I always said that 2x or 3x are the ideal focal lengths for the telephoto, any longer than that, either you add a separate lens or you use digital zoom.

Case in point: I was on vacation with my wife, me with the 3x iphone 15 Pro and she with the 5x Pro Max. I think I wanted her zoom twice in 2 weeks, whereas I took a lot more of pictures with my 3x (but much much more with 2x!)

 

[EugW]

That's a gorgeous mockup.

The camera bump still doesn't look great, but it's not as bad as it could be.

 

[dannyyankou]

I’m skeptical that Apple would downgrade the telephoto lens from 5x to 3.5x optical zoom. 48mp will give more detail when you digitally zoom in, but I think they’re going to try to keep the optical zoom the same.

I know, it’s technical not “optical zoom”. You get my point.

 

[r_123]

More megapixels doesn’t replace optical zooming. Maybe a 3.5x would be useful more often than a 5x, but it seems like a shame to lose the 5x.

i still wonder why the camera bump is so huge. it would be stunning, if they'd make that 3.5x with a 2x optical zoom... so we'd have 0.5, 1, 3.5 and 7 @ 48mp and: 2x and 14x @ 12mp. that'd be a dream come true.

 

[hoodlum90]

This would be a reason for me to finally upgraded from my iPhone 12 PRO Max. The 5x low quality zoom never made sense to me with the large gap between the wide angle camera and zoom.

 

[HaHaRich!]

I have been holding off on upgrading because I live in zoom; I want tighter pictures of my kids smiles, get great sports shots from the field while I’m in the crowd. If the complaint is that 5x is too tight, and 3.5x/7x fusion Zoom to compliment the 2x fusion button is the more universally accepted compromise, I *guess* that’s an argument I can accept 🤷‍♂️ maybe I’m the edge case, but I want the 5x/10x fusion that seemed the more natural progression after the 15/16 pro camera evolution line up

 

[HaHaRich!]

i still wonder why the camera bump is so huge. it would be stunning, if they'd make that 3.5x with a 2x optical zoom... so we'd have 0.5, 1, 3.5 and 7 @ 48mp and: 2x and 14x @ 12mp. that'd be a dream come true.

I don’t think that’s the “camera bump” as much as it’s a vapor chamber heat sink bump, that was placed next to the camera for aesthetic purposes, so you don’t get a camera bump and a weird extra bump

 

[skier8689]

Can we please stop calling it optical zoom? It would simply be an 85mm lens, in addition to the other two lenses. The iPhone essentially has 3 prime lenses. They do not optically zoom. An optical zoom would be 1 lens that OPTICALLY ZOOMED from 24mm to 85mm.

 

[hoodlum90]

I’m skeptical that Apple would downgrade the telephoto lens from 5x to 3.5x optical zoom. 48mp will give more detail when you digitally zoom in, but I think they’re going to try to keep the optical zoom the same.

I know, it’s technical not “optical zoom”. You get my point.

It makes perfect sense as they can still provide a 12mp cropped image at 7x and the pixel size may not be that much smaller than the 5x zoom sensor since the 3.5x zoom would have a noticeably larger sensor. They will find a way to market it.

Finally, we will have a much better image below 5x which is much more important for everyday use.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

No.

This is terrible. The entire reason I was holding out for the 17 PM was the better sensor on a 5x or greater optical zoom in order to make better concert bootlegs.

Being forced into a digital crop in a low-light environment is the worst possible scenario.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

5x is almost useless, it's very rare that you get to use it. Any picture taken between 1x - 4.9x basically uses the main 1x camera, which is probably 99.9% of all pictures.

I always said that 2x or 3x are the ideal focal lengths for the telephoto, any longer than that, either you add a separate lens or you use digital zoom.

Case in point: I was on vacation with my wife, me with the 3x iphone 15 Pro and she with the 5x Pro Max. I think I wanted her zoom twice in 2 weeks, whereas I took a lot more of pictures with my 3x (but much much more with 2x!)

I live and die by my 5x.

Between travel and concerts, it’s used probably more than the main shooter.

 

[Ifti]

I'm more concerned about that ugly rear camera design. Was hoping it would change, although seems unlikely now. Hopefully something I'll get used to.....

 

[dannyyankou]

The camera bump still doesn't look great, but it's not as bad as it could be.

Yeah, this wouldn’t be Apple’s first controversial design change. And what always happens is a combination of the final product looking better than the initial mockups, and people just getting used to it. I have to say, the design is growing on me.

I remember when the iPhone 4 first leaked. It’s hard to believe now, but I would say 50% of people hated the design initially. But now, it’s regarded as one of their best designs. I think nostalgia for the Steve Jobs era plays a role in that.

 

[wave84]

I live and die by my 5x.

Between travel and concerts, it’s used probably more than the main shooter.

Here's the problem, though. A 5x photo with a 3.5x lens will be almost perfect (or perfect with a 48MP sensor).
But a 3.5x photo with a 5x camera doesn't exist .. (it doesn't use the lens at all).

So a 3.5x is far far more useful for more people and more situations.

 

[r_123]

I don’t think that’s the “camera bump” as much as it’s a vapor chamber heat sink bump, that was placed next to the camera for aesthetic purposes, so you don’t get a camera bump and a weird extra bump

hmm... let's hope not. the vapor chambers of other smartphones seem very thin to me.

 

[Onimusha370]

Oh god, in before this phone is marketed as having 9 lenses 🙃

 

[r_123]

No.

This is terrible. The entire reason I was holding out for the 17 PM was the better sensor on a 5x or greater optical zoom in order to make better concert bootlegs.

Being forced into a digital crop in a low-light environment is the worst possible scenario.

i get your point, but i'm pretty sure, you'd get better images at 5x with a 3.5x48mp 17 pro than with a 5x12mp 16 pro. i wasn't all that impressed with the 5x of the 16 pro so far.