Skip to main content

Forget about the iPhone 16. This new iPhone 17 rumor sounds incredible

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max's camera module.
The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Apple will almost certainly announce the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro series in a few weeks. However, we continue to hear exciting rumors about next year’s iPhone 17 series lineup. The latest news comes from Ming-Chi Kuo.

According to the respected analyst, at least one of the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature upgraded quad-rear cameras, resulting in much-improved camera quality and zoom function. This will reportedly be thanks to a new 48MP telephoto lens. Kuo says Apple is using an upgraded quadruple reflect camera on the iPhone 17 Pro that will require a camera with a shorter appearance for the new telephoto lens.

The current iPhone 15 Pro Max features a 12MP tetraprism telephoto camera with a maximum optical zoom of 5x and a digital zoom limit of 25x. At the same time, the smaller iPhone 15 Pro comes with a 12MP telephoto camera offering 3x optical zoom and a digital zoom of up to 15x.

Kuo expects the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max to have similar camera specs, which would be an improvement for the smaller iPhone 16 Pro. Looking ahead to 2027, one of the iPhone 19 models is expected to feature a new camera improvement with better optical zoom. This improvement involves using more than four prisms in the lens to lengthen the light path and increase the zoom range.

If the possible camera changes coming to the iPhone in 2025 don’t sound exciting to you, there are other features likely to arrive that are worth considering. Previously, for example, we heard that Apple plans to change the outer glass on the iPhone 17 series to significantly reduce reflections and scratches. Next year’s iPhones may also be thinner, akin to this year’s iPad Pro models.

This year’s iPhone 16 series should be announced in September. Among the changes to this year’s phones that we expect are larger displays, improved charging specs for the Pro models, redesigned rear cameras for the non-Pro models, and more.

Bryan M. Wolfe
Bryan M. Wolfe has over a decade of experience as a technology writer. He writes about mobile.
Apple’s most impressive AI feature isn’t in the iOS 18.1 beta
A person demonstrating the new Siri revamped with Apple Intelligence at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024.

Today ended up being a big day for iPhone and Apple fans. Why? Apple kicked off the week by releasing its iOS 18.1 developer beta -- aka, the first iOS 18 beta with Apple Intelligence features included.

It's a notable step forward for Apple's big AI push, though the Apple Intelligence experience available in the iOS 18.1 beta isn't a full or finished product. Not every Apple Intelligence feature is available to use, including Apple's most impressive one.

Read more
You can finally try AI features on your iPhone with the iOS 18.1 beta
Apple Intelligence on iPhone pulling data from across apps.

If you’re part of the Apple Developer program and have been trying out the iOS 18 beta on your iPhone, then go grab the latest iOS 18.1 developer beta. This is a significant update, as it finally brings Apple Intelligence features to your iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max.

As of right now, Apple has only released the iOS 18.1 beta for developers. There is no public beta for iOS 18.1 yet, but it may be coming soon. You’ll also need the iOS 18.1 beta on an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max, as those are the only two iPhone models that are capable of running Apple Intelligence features, though iOS 18 can go on devices as far back as the iPhone XS.

Read more
The iPhone 16 is almost here, and this is the feature I’m most excited about
iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max in hand.

In less than two months, Apple will reveal the iPhone 16 line, as well as release its iOS 18 update to the masses. It’s going to be an exciting one, as the iPhone 16 line is slated to get some big upgrades this year. And with iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence, we're getting ready to enter a new era for the iPhone.

There are a lot of new things we expect for the iPhone 16, including a new camera layout for the base model iPhone 16, an improved periscope telephoto camera for the iPhone 16 Pro, larger displays with even thinner bezels, the Action button across all models, and more.

Read more