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

🔍 Summary:

Apple is set to enhance the Telephoto camera on the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro, introducing a new 48MP sensor that replaces the current 12MP sensor used in the iPhone 16 Pro models. This upgrade, as reported by leaker Majin Bu and supported by other sources, will shift the optical zoom capability from 5x to 3.5x, equivalent to an 85mm lens. Despite the reduction in zoom, this focal length is more practical for portraits and everyday photography, allowing for closer framing of subjects.

The increased resolution of the 48MP sensor will enable high-quality digital cropping, simulating longer focal lengths with less quality degradation compared to traditional digital zoom. This approach mirrors the technique used in the iPhone 16’s main Fusion camera, which also features a 48MP sensor capable of producing a digitally cropped 12MP image that maintains high image fidelity.

The new 3.5x telephoto lens is expected to offer greater versatility, particularly in portrait photography, by allowing compositions at more comfortable distances, especially in constrained spaces. This change suggests a strategic shift by Apple towards leveraging high-resolution sensors and computational processing to enhance photographic capabilities, potentially offering more flexible zoom options and improved usability for portrait shots without compromising on image quality.

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are anticipated to be the first in the series to feature a rear triple-camera setup, all equipped with 48MP sensors. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 lineup in September.

📌 Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2025/04/03/iphone-17-pro-48mp-telephoto-zoom-change/