Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways The iPhone 17 series houses a square sensor for Center Stage selfies. Apple introduced ultra-stabilized video shooting to the iPhone's selfie camera, and it's actually useful. These features are available across all four new iPhones. I recently shifted to the iPhone 17 Pro Max from my iPhone 16 Pro, thinking the new 4x telephoto camera and vapor cooling chamber would be the upgrades I notice the most. But after using the new iPhone for weeks now, my favorite pick turned out to be the selfie camera. Odd, right? Also: I've used every iPhone 17 model, and my yearly buying advice is changing in 2025 Many might dismiss the new selfie camera as a minor feature, but the 18MP sensor is more about quality-of-life upgrades than just a megapixel bump. It is housed inside every new iPhone, including the iPhone Air, and offers capabilities that will undoubtedly be copied by the competition -- not because they're trendy but because they're convenient and enhance the overall user experience. A bigger deal than we think Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET As a refresher, the iPhone 17 series comes equipped with a new 18MP Center Stage camera housed in a square sensor. It lets you shoot landscape selfies without needing to turn your phone in that orientation. The software automatically repositions its framing based on the number of people in the photo, and it works surprisingly well! Apple's Center Stage is one of those rare artificial intelligence features that's reliable and works without you needing to fiddle with the settings. But the best part is that Center Stage works in third-party apps. Also: Apple's iPhone 17 will forever change how we take selfies - including on Android phones I love it when the feature kicks in on my WhatsApp video calls. I can be moving around doing the chores (I can't sit still), but the camera keeps me in the frame and helps me annoy my girlfriend a little less. I've found Center Stage very useful for Zoom calls on my MacBook Air, and I'm glad it is finally available on my most-used app on iPhone. Center Stage for photos on iPhone 17 Pro Max Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET I have also started shooting more selfies and videos, thanks to auto-framing and ultra-stabilized video features. I like selfies for their more intimate videos and in-the-moment vibes in group shots. However, at times, the moment is lost by the time you turn the phone to landscape orientation. But the iPhone 17 fixes this. You can enter the camera, turn to selfie mode, and Center Stage for photos will automatically adjust the framing according to the number of people in the group. It is fast, intuitive, and just works. It also keeps you in the moment by finding the best framing automatically. All you need to do is make sure the Auto Zoom and Auto Rotate options are turned on in the viewfinder. The accessibility gains from the new selfie Kerry Wan/ZDNET The iPhone 17 also improves selfie video capture with ultra-stabilized videos. This might not look like a big improvement on paper, but it is another upgrade that makes my life easier. Also: I took the iPhone 17 on a trip to Hawaii, and it surpassed my expectations (until it didn't) I live with a nervous disorder that causes constant tremors in my hands, which often makes my selfie videos shaky -- especially in low light. The result? Awkward, jittery footage that's kept me from recording or posting online. After all, no one wants to watch a trembling vlog from a launch event. But the new iPhones might finally change that. The iPhone 17 Pro is the first phone that actually makes me want to record myself more often. I can shoot smooth, stabilized 4K 60fps video without switching to Action mode or flipping to the rear cameras. The footage is steadier, cleaner in low light, and -- finally -- something I'm proud to share with the world. Jason Hiner/ZDNET Whether I'll actually start posting from launch events around the world is another question -- but at least now, my videos can look as smooth and professional as everyone else's, without lugging around an external gimbal. I love this feature more than any other upgrade in the iPhone 17 lineup. And with dual capture, it's genuinely fun to use. The new iPhones let you record yourself and what's in front of you at the same time, using both the front and rear cameras. While several Android phones have offered this before, Apple's unmatched stabilization on both sides gives the iPhone a clear edge in overall quality. Also: I tested the iPhone Air for a week, and here's why 17 Pro Max users shouldn't sleep on it I haven't shot enough photos with the rear cameras yet to judge how much of a leap the new 4x telephoto really is. But from the first day, it was obvious that I'd love to use the front camera. From Center Stage in video calls to auto-framing in photos and ultra-stabilized clips, the 18MP selfie camera is easily the star of the show on my iPhone 17 Pro. And I'm glad Apple didn't reserve it for the Pro models -- you get the same experience on the more affordable iPhone 17 and the ultra-slim iPhone Air.