Apple's Upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max to Come with Upgraded 48MP Telephoto Camera

In a move that signifies Apple’s unrelenting pursuit of pushing boundaries, the tech giant is reportedly planning an extensive upgrade to the telephoto camera capabilities in its forthcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max, slated for a late 2025 release. The information sourced from Jeff Pu, an analyst at Haitong International Securities, hints at a 48MP telephoto camera, a remarkable leap from the existing 12MP camera on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

This improvement is not just about higher resolution for zoomed images. It is intricately tied to the Apple Vision Pro mixed-reality headset set to hit the market in early 2024. Though details remain nebulous on how the new camera will mesh with the headset, the high-resolution camera’s role in enabling detailed content viewing through the Apple Vision Pro seems plausible.

Apple’s innovation spree does not stop at the camera. Speculations are rife about the introduction of the company’s custom Wi-Fi 7 chips in the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models. This addition could revolutionize wireless speeds, reducing latency and facilitating smoother interaction with the Apple Vision Pro.

While these advancements paint an exciting future, there’s more. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has dropped hints about upgraded tetraprism cameras for the 2023 iPhone 16 Pro models. However, it remains to be seen whether the 48MP sensor will make its debut with this release. Additionally, unverified reports about a 10x tetraprism lens in a future iPhone and noticeable shifts in the supply chain suggest Apple’s intent to offer lossless zoom capabilities in its premium smartphones.