Yesterday saw the emergence of three rumors about the iPhone 17 Pro camera system. The source for them has no track-record, so it’s entirely possible that all three are nonsense, but it’s at least plausible that they would have access to the claimed information.
Two of the rumored features would be welcome, even if one sounds rather unlikely. But the third is something I’m very much hoping is dead wrong …
The source claims to work for a video production company which lists Apple among its clients, and to be basing their information on an iPhone 17 Pro video currently in the works.
The three features said to be covered in the video are:
A first-party pro camera app from Apple
A second Camera Control button on the top edge of the phone
The telephoto lens jumping from 5x optical zoom to 8x
Apple pro camera app
In iOS 26, Apple simplifies the user interface for the Camera app. Opening it now, you initially see just Photo and Video options, though the rest of the features (time-lapse, slo-mop, cinematic video, portrait mode, spatial photography, and panoramas) are still there when you swipe.
The tipster suggests that the company is balancing out this simplified UI for the main camera app with a separate ‘pro’ app. No details are provided, but it’s assumed this would replicate features available in third-party ‘pro’ camera apps, like manual exposure and manual focusing.
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