Kuo: iPhone 17 to Feature 24MP Front-Facing Camera

[MacRumors]

The iPhone 17 lineup will feature a 24-megapixel front-facing camera, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

The information was shared in a new post on Medium. The iPhone 14 and 15 feature a 12-megapixel front-facing camera with five plastic lens elements. The iPhone 16 lineup is expected to feature the same hardware. With the iPhone 17, Apple will apparently bolster the hardware to a 24-megapixel camera with a six-element lens. Kuo says that the upgrade will significantly improve the image quality of the front-facing camera.

• iPhone 6S: 5-megapixel front-facing camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture and 4P lens
• iPhone 7, iPhone X, and iPhone XS: 7-megapixel front-facing camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture and 4P lens
• iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and iPhone 13: 12-megapixel front-facing camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture and 5P lens
• iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16: 12-megapixel front-facing camera with ƒ/1.9 aperture, autofocus, and 5P lens
• iPhone 17: 24-megapixel front-facing camera with autofocus and 6P lens

The upgraded resolution to 24 megapixels is noteworthy because it would allow for greater detail and clarity in images. With a higher resolution, photos can maintain their quality even when cropped or zoomed in, providing more flexibility in post-processing. Additionally, the larger number of pixels can capture finer details, making the images sharper and more vibrant.

The upgrade to a six-element lens would also slightly enhance image quality. Each element can be designed to correct for various aberrations and distortions, leading to clearer, more accurate photos. The additional elements can also improve the efficiency of light transmission to the sensor, enhancing low-light performance.

It is worth noting that the iPhone 17 Pro is expected to be the first ‌iPhone‌ to feature under-panel Face ID technology, which could reduce the size of the Dynamic Island, but a circular cutout for the front-facing camera is expected to remain. The iPhone 17 Pro will probably be Apple's last premium model to include a circular cutout for the front-facing camera. Apple is then expected adopt under-display cameras in 2027's "Pro" ‌iPhone‌ models for a true "all-screen" appearance.

Article Link: Kuo: iPhone 17 to Feature 24MP Front-Facing Camera

 

[Reverend Benny]

Will be interesting to see how this rumor and the rumors that there will be no "notch" or "dynamic island" could be meet.
Maybe an all screen solution allows for a bigger lens under the display?
Not sure how taking a pic through a touchscreen and screenlayer will affect picture quality, but maybe its no biggie with today CPU power.

 

[Skyscraperfan]

On Instagram I always get a ********* when I comment that most people are too ugly for selfies. I actually include myself. Why should I make a selfie? Does it provide any value for others if they see my face on Instagram? A phone with a front camera makes me constantly feel watched.

 

[contacos]

Can we also get a toggle to disable the horrible machine learning filter (whatever it is called) because selfies on my 15 Plus look horrible. I was actually shocked, coming from my iPhone 12 PM. I hardly take selfies but when I tried to show off the camera capabilities to my family over Christmas, I thought the camera app had a bug and even tried restarting the phone but no, the photos simply look like crap compared to the 12 in low light. It looks perfect BEFORE you take the shot but once you look at the actually photo it has taken, the colours are completely dull and washed out, the image quality is not sharp either. Really disappointed.

Oh and before anyone thinks I am dumb.

Further sources

Influencers Complain About 'Unflattering' iPhone 15 Selfie Camera

"The iPhone 15 camera is horrible."

petapixel.com

https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/comments/16p1b3m

How do I fix the selfie camera of my iPho… - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

My New iPhone Is Making Me Look Uglier

The selfie camera has gotten too good.

www.theatlantic.com

Front camera on iPhone 15 Pro Max has bad quality

Has anyone else noticed the low quality selfies taken on the 15 pro/ pro max? When you take a selfie and view it, notice that for 1-2 seconds the quality is bad then it gets enhanced or something.

forums.macrumors.com

 

[flottenheimer]

Apple turning into Gillette?

 

[CB1234]

I am waiting for Kuo's prediction on iPhone 20 !! iPhone 17 is so old already....

 

[McWetty]

I wonder if we will get a camera bump on the front to match the back. lol.

 

[Kylo83]

can’t we just talk about the next iPhone?

 

[MrENGLISH]

A phone with a front camera makes me constantly feel watched.

Shoosh..... someone could be listening in on the microphone and monitoring your internet activity. Better to go off grid. No one is safe. Not even those who consider themselves to be too ugly for selfies.

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

“Kuo says that the upgrade will significantly improve the image quality of the front-facing camera.”

That’s a bold statement…

 

[k1121j]

Pease don’t let this mean a bigger hole / notch

 

[MuppetGate]

Apple turning into Gillette?

Read this while shaving with my eighteen-blade, nuclear-powered, lubrastripped, nuttabastid razor with built-in anal tickler, and thought, “This guy doesn’t have a clue.”

 

[Fat_Guy]

Selfie cameras suck generally because most people just take it arm’s length away. Go in front of a large mirror and take the shot a longer distance away holding the rear cameras below the chin and crop in post and I guarantee your face will look better.


Smoothing and beauty modes are another issue but in general a selfie will exaggerate your facial issues unless you have a perfect face - then it’s just a perfect face being taken by a crappy selfie camera… 🤣

 

[adammusic]

Will I still look ugly?

 

[ohthehorror]

Does this make my butt look big?

 

[ProfessionalFan]

A phone with a front camera makes me constantly feel watched.

Lucky for you the phone has an indicator that shows when the camera is engaged so you don't need to worry about it spying on you.

Wearing a tinfoil hat while using the phone will also be an effective strategy though.

 

[cicalinarrot]

Now that there’s a huge bulge in the back… why don’t they make it bigger with room for a selfie camera as big as the main one?

 

[RandomTox]

Not the cameras again. Bring the innovation back. New form factor would be great.

 

[RandomTox]

Apple turning into Gillett

I am waiting for Kuo's prediction on iPhone 20 !! iPhone 17 is so old already....

iPhone 20 will be a camera.

 

[japanime]

Not the cameras again. Bring the innovation back. New form factor would be great.

I anticipate the iPhone 18 will have a new form factor. Something like this. 🤣

 

[Alex Cai]

So will it fix the over-sharpened and grainy selfies???

 

[ProfessionalFan]

New form factor would be great.

What form do you want your phone to have? When companies try to reinvent the look, we end up with things like the LG Wing abomination

 

[klasma]

but a circular cutout for the front-facing camera is expected to remain.

They should make it a HAL 9000 design. Dynamic Island is watching you.

 

[klasma]

Does this make my butt look big?

What kind of selfies are you taking?

 

[kiranmk2]

I'm guessing that moving FaceID under the screen will need new light sources (dot projector) and detector (photodiode) to cope with a longer wavelength of light (to pass through the display layers more easily). This prediction is probably based on Apple's roadmap that is has shared with suppliers, but this technology still hasn't been fully developed. In order to make the iPhone 17 range it needs to be mostly developed (and cheap enough) by this time next year, so I fully expect this timeline to slip.