There is still almost a year’s worth of wait before we can officially know what the iPhone 17 has to offer. Unofficially, however, some key aspects of the iPhone 17 and its expected models have been out in the open for quite a while.
The latest update we are hearing is about its camera system upgrades.
According to a report from The Elec, as briefed by 9to5Mac, next year’s iPhone 17 and the rumoured iPhone 17 Air will not feature a 5x optical zoom lens. Instead, this advanced zoom capability powered by Apple’s tetraprism camera system is expected to remain exclusive to the Pro models, which include the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max.
Here’s what we know.
Currently, the tetraprism system in models like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max uses a “folded” design. This allows the camera to fit into the phone while offering up to 5x optical zoom and 25x digital zoom.
However, smaller Pro models, like the iPhone 15 Pro and earlier devices, only provide up to 3x optical zoom.
Standard models, such as the iPhone 16, support up to 2x optical-quality zoom. The iPhone 17 is expected to maintain that level, but details about the iPhone 17 Air’s zoom capabilities remain unclear.
Reports suggest the Air will feature only a single 48-megapixel rear camera.
The Elec report also mentions that the LG Innotech camera module plant would probably be used in the iPhone 17 Pro camera.
According to the report, “LG Innotech announced on the 21st that it will invest 375.9 billion won to secure a new facility for the camera module (Optical Solution Division). The purpose of the investment is “to respond to new models of optical solution business and improve competitiveness” […] LG Innotech currently has the largest market share of Apple iPhone camera modules, so there is no need to significantly increase production capacity right away. For this reason, the purpose of this investment seems to be to replace equipment and facilities due to the high specification of the iPhone 17 series camera module.”
The iPhone 17 Air has been surrounded by mixed rumours. While it’s expected to be Apple’s thinnest iPhone ever, it will likely lack some of the features seen in the Pro models.
The Air is rumoured to feature a 6.6-inch display, a standard A19 chip, a Dynamic Island, and a single rear camera, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. It could also be one of the first devices to use Apple’s custom 5G modem, replacing Qualcomm’s modems. However, it’s unclear if this will offer noticeable benefits to consumers.
Apple’s move to introduce its custom 5G modem with the iPhone 17 Air suggests a focus on making it the first step in the company’s cellular technology roadmap.
Answer. No, the iPhone 17 Air will not feature a 5x optical zoom lens. This advanced zoom capability is expected to remain exclusive to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models.
Answer. LG Innotech is upgrading its production unit to secure a new facility for the camera module to meet the high specifications of the iPhone 17 Pro series camera module.
Answer. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to feature a 6.6-inch display, a standard A19 chip, Dynamic Island, a single rear 48-megapixel camera, and potentially Apple’s custom 5G modem.
Read More: New iPhone 17 Leaked Renders Hint at Different Camera Module Design
Read More: iPhone 17 Air Rumored to Be Apple’s Thinnest iPhone at Only 6mm Thickness
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