Apple seemingly plans to use 24MP selfie cameras across its entire iPhone 17 lineup. The higher resolution sensor should lead to a noticeable improvement in image quality.
All current iPhone models sport a 12MP TrueDepth camera.
Apple may equip all iPhone 17 models with a 24MP front camera
Over the last few years, Apple has given the iPhone cameras a resolution bump. It first upgraded the 12MP primary shooter to a 48MP sensor. The combination of a larger sensor, higher resolution, and pixel binning enables new iPhones to take sharper pictures. They now also capture photos at 24MP, up from 12MP. With the iPhone 16 Pro, Apple bumped the ultrawide camera’s resolution to 48MP.
A note from GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu, shared with MacRumors, claims Apple will use a 24MP front camera on its 2026 iPhones. This upgrade will seemingly even come for non-Pro iPhones. The higher resolution sensor should allow the iPhone 17 to use pixel binning to capture sharper and more detailed selfies. The improvement should be more noticeable in low-light scenarios.
Like the rear camera, Apple could enable the iPhone 17 to capture photos in the full 24MP resolution for more details and clarity. With Apple iOS 17, users can expect enhanced camera software optimizations that further improve image processing and overall photography experience. Learn more about how iPhone 17 Air will mark a new beginning for Apple.
TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo first reported in August 2024 that the iPhone 17’s front camera could receive a 24MP upgrade. He also believes Apple will switch to a 6P lens to further improve image quality.
iPhone 17 Pro may also sport a 48MP telephoto camera
In the note, Pu also claims that the iPhone 17 Pro will ship with 12GB RAM and use an A19 Pro chip fabricated on TSMC’s new 3nm node. The non-Pro models will purportedly use an A19 chip.
Rumors indicate Apple will move to a 48MP telephoto camera on the iPhone 17 Pro lineup this year as well. This should lead to a noticeable jump in image quality and sharpness.
Rajesh has been closely following and writing about the latest happenings in the world of mobile for nearly a decade now. While he prefers Android, he does not deny the superiority of Apple’s products and ecosystem.
