Apple Rumored to Boost Telephoto Camera Resolution in iPhone 17 Pro Series

Apple has steadily improved the camera capabilities of its iPhones, starting with the introduction of a 2x telephoto sensor in the iPhone 7 Plus, which enhanced portrait mode. Over the years, telephoto lenses have become a staple in the Pro models, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max now featuring a 12MP 5x telephoto camera. However, one area where iPhones have lagged behind competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S Series is in sensor resolution.

While many flagship models, such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and Google Pixel 9 Pro, now feature higher-resolution telephoto cameras, Apple has continued to rely on a 12MP telephoto sensor. For instance, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 50MP telephoto camera supports impressive zoom ranges, enabling digital zoom up to 100x. In comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro’s 5x telephoto camera limits zoom to 25x.

Recent rumors suggest that Apple might be preparing to address this with the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models. According to reports, both devices will be equipped with a 48MP 5x telephoto sensor, marking a significant upgrade from the current 12MP sensor. This change could greatly enhance Apple’s zoom performance, particularly at 10x and beyond, where the higher-resolution sensor would provide clearer, more detailed images.

Additionally, it’s reported that the iPhone 17 Pro series will come with 12GB of RAM, up from the 8GB available in the iPhone 16 Pro models. This would further improve the phone’s overall performance, especially in handling camera features and high-resolution image processing.

If Apple adopts a 48MP telephoto sensor alongside the current 48MP wide and ultrawide cameras, the iPhone 17 Pro series could offer a more well-rounded and versatile camera system. Such an upgrade would be a major step toward closing the gap between Apple and competitors like Samsung and Google in terms of telephoto capabilities.