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Title: The iPhone 17's new selfie camera lets you take group shots without
rotating your phone

Date: Tue, 09 Sep 2025 19:53:45 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/t...

If you're trying to decide whether to buy a new iPhone 17 model and looking
at the camera updates, there's mostly good news and a little bad following
today's big event. Apple did upgrade the telephoto camera on the iPhone 17
Pro and Pro Max models and introduced some new pro video features. It also
boosted resolution on the base iPhone 17's ultra wide camera ΓÇö but that
model still lacks a dedicated telephoto camera now available on rivals like
the Pixel 10.

However, the most welcome change across the lineup is the new front facing
camera. It not only has a higher resolution square sensor, but a nice Center
Stage feature that makes it far easier to switch between portrait and group
photos. Video is also much improved on that camera. Here are all the details
on camera changes across the lineup.

iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max Apple

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max cameras received a major upgrade with a new
telephoto sensor that's 56 percent larger and boosts resolution from 12MP to
48MP ΓÇö meaning all three Fusion Cameras now share that resolution. Optical
zoom has also been expanded on the telephoto camera from 5x to 8x thanks to a
new tetraprism lens. The larger hump that runs across the back of the phone
(a camera "plateau" is there to accommodate the new optics and sensor.

The other major upgrade is in the front-facing camera. All iPhone 17 models
including the Pro models have a square-sensor "Center Stage" 18MP selfie
camera, up from 12MP on the three previous generations. The lens has been
updated as well with six elements instead of five as before. That will make
for sharper selfie photos and more detailed video, a big plus for a camera
that hasn't got much love in past versions.

The square front camera sensor will also change the way you take selfies.
Instead of turning the phone sideways for wide group shots, you simply tap a
setting to expand the field of view and orientation. Apple says that's not
only simpler but more likely to prevent mishaps since it's easier to grip the
phone vertically. In video mode, meanwhile, the front camera now offers ultra-
stabilized 4K HDR video. The one drawback is that it's harder to see details,
as the image on the screen is much smaller when held vertically.

Apple also made some key video changes to tempt filmmakers toward iPhones
instead of dedicated cameras. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max have a new
photonic engine to preserve detail and color fidelity. Apple also introduced
ProRes RAW capture, Apple Log 2 and genlock. The first two features will
allow for improved dynamic range and easier grading, while genlock will make
it easier to sync footage shot with multiple iPhone 17 Pros. Another key
feature is Dual Capture that lets you film with both the front and rear
cameras at the same time, so you can capture footage and vlog your reaction
to it simultaneously.

iPhone 17

Apple

Compared to the Pro models, the base iPhone 17 received a milder camera
boost. Primarily, the company has upgraded the Fusion Ultra Wide camera to
48MP, matching the 48MP Fusion Main Camera. That will deliver more detailed
photos and video when shooting group and other wide shots. However, optical
zoom on the telephoto camera is still limited to 2x, compared to 5x on
Samsung and Google's latest Pixel 10 and Galaxy S25 base models, something
buyers are likely to notice. That said, the boosted resolution will allow for
clearer pictures when zooming digitally.

The base model now records 4K 60 fps Dolby Vision with creative features like
Cinematic and Action modes, along with Spatial Audio. The Audio Mix function
automatically boosts voices and reduces ambient noise, while providing a wind
noise reduction feature.

The iPhone 17 gets the same front camera upgrade as the Pro models, including
the square 18MP sensor and Center Stage tricks that let you should wide or
portrait shots without turning the camera, along with ultra-stabilized 4K HDR
video.

iPhone 17 Air Apple

Apple kept the iPhone 17 Air so thin by using a single 48MP Fusion Camera,
but it did try to make it as versatile as possible. It has a large 2
micrometer quad-pixel sensor that excels in low light, along with an optical
quality 2x telephoto. That gives users "the equivalent of four lenses in
their pocket," Apple said, including wide and telephoto models, via digital
and optical zoom.

Like the other models, you can capture 4K 60 fps Dolby Vision HDR video, and
get support for Action mode, Spatial Audio capture and Audio Mix mode to
boost voices and reduce ambient noise. The new Photonic Engine improves image
detail and color accuracy and a new Bright style adds clarity to skin tones
and increases vibrance.

The iPhone 17 Air also has the 18MP Center Stage front square sensor camera
as the other models, with all the benefits that entails. Those include
switching from wide to portrait photos without rotating the camera, 4K HDR
video capture with ultra stabilization and Dual Capture to take video from
both the front and rear cameras at the same time. Center Stage can also be
used during video calls to keep you stable and positioned in the frame.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/t...
lets-you-take-group-shots-without-rotating-your-phone-195345475.html?src=rss

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