Apple Continues to Reserve Advanced Camera Features for Pro iPhone Models

Apple’s strategy of differentiating its Pro and standard iPhone models by hardware capabilities is expected to continue with the iPhone 17 series. According to a report from South Korea’s The Elec, only the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature advanced 5x telephoto lenses, leaving standard models without this capability once again.

This separation has been consistent since the introduction of the Pro lineup, starting with the iPhone 11 series. None of the standard models, including the recently released iPhone 16, have incorporated telephoto lenses, and the same trend is anticipated for the upcoming iPhone 17 standard models.

The rumored iPhone 17 lineup may include the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and two standard variants, likely named iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air. The iPhone 17 Air, expected to be a premium-priced addition, might forgo a third telephoto camera and even adopt a single-camera setup despite its cost. This aligns with several reports suggesting that the Air model will prioritize design over advanced hardware features, possibly becoming Apple’s thinnest iPhone ever at just 6mm.

While the Pro models are set to feature the latest telephoto sensors, the standard iPhone 17 and its variants will reportedly include features like the A19 chip, Dynamic Island, an aluminum frame, and 8GB of RAM. These upgrades aim to enhance AI-driven functionalities within the devices.

The potential lineup structure signals Apple’s commitment to offering diverse options for consumers, much like their experiments with Mini and Plus models in previous generations.