iPhone 17 Pro camera leaked: Redesigned module promises up to 8× optical zoom

The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro series is already turning heads with rumours of a redesigned rear camera module that could revolutionise mobile photography. Reports suggest the new horizontally extended camera bar may house a significantly larger telephoto sensor, possibly a 48-megapixel lens capable of up to 8× optical zoom—far exceeding the 5× capability of its predecessor. 

Leaks also mentions a new professional-grade camera app for enhanced control over photos and videos, and a movable lens element enabling continuous zoom. With the launch anticipated in early September 2025, these upgrades could elevate the iPhone 17 Pro into a serious creative tool for photographers and videographers alike. 

iPhone 17 Pro release date in India (Rumoured)

In September, Apple usually announces the new iPhone lineup at an event. Typically, that event occurs on a Tuesday in the second week of September. Therefore, on or around September 9, 2025, the iPhone 17 Pro line will be unveiled at an event.

iPhone 17 Pro camera leaked

Jon Prosser of FrontPageTech asserted in his first YouTube video since the Apple lawsuit that there may be a technological reason for the atypically big empty area between the flash and LiDAR sensor on the right side and the triangle camera arrangement on the left. 

He asserted, emphasising that it is only conjecture, that the tech behemoth from Cupertino might be preparing to install a larger telephoto camera sensor there to boost the optical zoom beyond the current 5x. Last month, MacRumors also reported on this conjecture. 

A new 48-megapixel telephoto lens with 8x optical zoom may be included in the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, according to the outlet, which cited an anonymous tipster. The movable lens, which enables continuous optical zoom across various focal lengths, was also mentioned in the paper. 

According to the same report, a new Pro Camera app is anticipated for the next generation of Pro models, giving consumers more flexibility in taking pictures and recording films. It's unclear if the app will be available to non-Pro models. 

Furthermore, it is currently unknown if it will be a whole new software or an improved version of the Final Cut Camera app.  

iPhone 17 Pro specifications (Expected)

As per a tipster, the extended camera module in the iPhone 17 Pro models could house a larger telephoto camera sensor | Credit: X/@MajinBuOfficial

Colour

Users can expect to see five sleek colour options : White, Black, Dark Blue, Orange, and Grey  

Battery

According to reports, Apple will release the A19 Pro chipset with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of base storage. Additionally, a discernible improvement in battery life over the iPhone 16 series is anticipated. 

Design

The back of the iPhone 17 Pro Max is anticipated to be significantly redesigned. According to predictions from prominent Apple experts like Sonny Dickson and Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 17 Pro may include a redesigned back panel composed of glass and aluminum. 

This change would break the iPhone 16 Pro models' all-titanium structure. Apple may have changed the material to improve structural endurance in certain regions while maintaining wireless charging compatibility. 

According to rumors, the iPhone 17 Pro series may also feature a larger, more rectangular camera module with softly curved corners, similar to the design used in Google's Pixel lineup.

Chipset

Analyst Jeff Pu revealed that Apple plans to update the iPhone 17 with the newest A19 CPU, defying previous rumors that the base model would keep the A18 chip. Pu claims that the A19 chip is anticipated to power both the regular iPhone 17 and the recently unveiled iPhone 17 Air. 

However, the more sophisticated A19 Pro CPU that powers the iPhone 17 Pro and Ultra models will likely provide better GPU performance. Additionally, the standard and Air variants might still use LPDDR5 memory, even if the Pro models are reported to switch to faster LPDDR5X RAM.

iPhone 17 Pro Max price in India (Rumoured)

The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro Max will be priced as follows:

Rs 1,64,990 in the Indian market

USD 1,499 in the USA market

AED 5,299 in the UAE market