We are just days away from Apple’s big event where the company will officially announce its latest mobile device, iPhone 17.
Little is officially known about what the iPhone 17 will bring to Apple’s iOS lineup. However, one thing is very likely based on the rumors: We will see some significant new camera features and upgrades this time around.
Here’s what Mashable is hearing.
The camera bump will become a camera island
The most persistent camera-related rumor for the iPhone 17, and one that can be seen in various alleged leaked images, is how Apple’s three camera lenses look on the back of the device.
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For years, Apple has designed the iPhone with what has been referred to as the “camera bump.” The camera bump is a square protrusion on the back of the iPhone that houses the iPhone’s camera lenses.
It appears that the iPhone 17 is reimagining the camera bump by extending it full-width across the back of the iPhone. This is already being referred to as the “camera island” by Apple fans.
Upgraded camera lenses
This one shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.
Apple has strived to upgrade at least one of its cameras lenses in each recent iteration of the iPhone. The iPhone 14 Pro’s main camera was upgraded to a 48MP sensor when it was released, and the iPhone 16 Pro’s ultra wide camera lens was upgraded to 48MP last year.
This year, it appears that the remaining third lens, the telephoto camera lens, will be receiving the 48MP upgrade on the iPhone 17 Pro.
Along with that 48MP bump, the telephoto lens will be able to provide users with an upgraded zoom option as well — from a 5x optical zoom in the iPhone 16 Pro to a 8x optical zoom in the iPhone 17 Pro.
The rear camera lenses aren’t the only ones rumored to be receiving an upgrade, either.
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For years the front-facing TrueDepth camera has been stuck at 12MP. With the iPhone 17, that “selfie” camera is expected to get an upgrade to 24MP. And this upgrade is expected to roll out to the entire iPhone 17 family of devices.
Multi-camera video recording
Since the iPhone has come out, there have been third-party apps and other workarounds that have provided unofficial multi-cam video recording through the iPhone.
Some apps allow users to utilize multiple devices. Other apps allow users to record through multiple camera lenses on the same iPhone. And there are even apps that provide picture-in-picture multi-cam recording that provides a front and back camera view within the same video.
It’s unclear exactly what Apple has in store with its own version of multi-cam video recording, but it does appear that Apple is preparing to roll out a new feature within its Camera app that officially brings multi-cam recording to the iPhone 17.
A new Pro Camera app
Speaking of Apple’s official Camera app for iOS, there’s word that the company will be introducing a new Pro Camera app as well.
While the name may suggest as much, it’s unclear if only Pro models of the iPhone will be able to utilize the features of this rumored app. There’s also a possibility that the Pro Camera can be rolled out within an updated version of the Final Cut Camera app.
If Apple does drop a Pro Camera app or feature along with the iPhone 17, it’s likely that it will provide a professional level of control over photos and video that third-party apps like Halide, Kino, and Filmic Pro provide users.
iPhone 17 Air’s singular rear camera
Much of the buzz surrounding the upcoming Apple event is the debut of Apple’s new ultra-thin model of iPhone, currently being dubbed the iPhone 17 Air.
The rumors are that the iPhone 17 Air will only be 5.5mm thick at its thinnest point, with the camera bump making the device around 1.8mm thicker.
However, in order to make the iPhone 17 Air ultra-thin, it appears this slim model of iPhone will only come with a single rear-facing camera. It’s a trade-off that Apple fans will have to consider.
Another new physical camera button
Full disclosure: Of all the rumored camera-oriented features potentially coming to the iPhone 17 line, this one appears the most iffy.
The iPhone 17 may see the addition of yet another physical button to go along with the Camera Control button that was introduced with the iPhone 16 models. This new rumor from a tipster claims that an additional Camera Control button is being added to the “top edge” of iPhone 17 devices in order to provide users with quicker access to the camera.
Which rumors are true? We only have a few more days to wait until we find out.
Be sure to tune into Mashable for our live coverage of the Apple event on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
