The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, expected to debut this September, are rumored to come with major camera enhancements. These leaks have stirred excitement among Apple enthusiasts.

While the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max currently top the list of best smartphone cameras, they are not without flaws. There remains considerable room for improvement - something the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max is poised to deliver.

The iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max offer excellent photo detail and natural color reproduction across all lenses. However, shortcomings persist. Apple fans are hopeful that this fall’s launch will bring transformative camera upgrades.

Below are five camera improvements eagerly anticipated by users. Some of these have already been hinted at in recent leaks.

1. Higher resolution for the periscope camera

Apple boosted the ultra-wide lens on the iPhone 16 Pro series to 48MP from 12MP, but the periscope lens still lags at 12MP. Compared to the 48MP main camera, this creates a notable weakness.

Leaks suggest the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will feature a 48MP periscope camera - a jump from 12MP - though the optical zoom may drop from 5x to 3.5x. However, digital zoom could reach up to 7x without significant detail loss.

Reducing optical zoom might raise concerns, especially for professional users like photographers who value long-range clarity. Still, Apple is expected to deliver satisfying upgrades overall.

2. Variable optical zoom or an additional telephoto lens

Another hoped-for improvement is the ability to zoom optically across multiple focal lengths. This could be achieved with a single lens capable of variable zoom or the addition of a secondary telephoto lens, similar to what Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra may offer.

Although no leaks have confirmed this development, the idea of iPhone 17 Pro supporting up to 10x zoom - complemented by the current 2x optical-quality zoom from the main camera - is appealing. It would give users more versatile shooting options.

3. Smarter AI photo editing tools

Apple's AI features still lag behind rivals, particularly in photo editing. Apple Intelligence, as of now, has yet to impress.

For instance, comparisons between Apple’s Clean Up tool and Samsung Galaxy’s AI photo editor clearly show Galaxy AI’s superior ability to remove unwanted details. Clean Up, by contrast, often leaves photos looking cluttered.

Therefore, users are hoping for a leap forward in AI-powered editing on the iPhone 17 Pro series.

While these improvements are likely to be software-driven, stronger hardware could help too. Unfortunately, Apple’s recent WWDC event revealed continued delays for Apple Intelligence features.

“This work needs more time to meet our high quality standards,” explained Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior VP of software, who emphasized the features will arrive “next year.”

Still, users hope Apple will begin catching up with competitors through better AI integration.

4. Larger image sensors

Raising megapixels is only part of the story - sensor size is even more critical. Larger sensors capture more light, yielding better photos, particularly in low-light environments.

Apple users are eager to see larger sensors in one or, ideally, all cameras on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. Yet, no current reports confirm this. In fact, some rumors claim the iPhone 17 Pro might have a smaller main sensor, a surprising and unwelcome idea if true.

5. Upgraded front camera

The iPhone 16 Pro series' selfie camera is falling behind Android competitors. Still stuck at 12MP - a spec unchanged since the iPhone 11 Pro - it now feels outdated.

Fortunately, leaks suggest the iPhone 17 lineup will feature a 24MP front-facing camera, a significant and welcome upgrade.

Though the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max rank among the best smartphone cameras, Apple has ample room to grow. With the iPhone 17 Pro series, users are hoping for higher resolution, larger sensors, more flexible zoom, stronger AI tools, and a better front camera.

The iPhone 17 lineup is expected this fall and may include the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and an ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, with major enhancements - especially for the Pro models.

Hai Phong (Techradar, PhoneArena)