iPhone 17's front camera will be upgraded to 24MP, says Kuo

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims Apple will upgrade the iPhone 17's front-facing selfie camera from 12MP/5P to 24M/6P for 2025, and is also planning improvements for the iPhone 16 cameras.

Previous rumors concerning the iPhone 17 range have concerned how the Pro models may be Apple's first to use 2 nanometer processors, and still may not get Apple's own 5G modem. As with every new iPhone generation, though, there are doubtlessly going to be camera improvements, and Ming-Chi Kuo believes he knows what the first of these will be.

"The front camera of the iPhone 17 will be upgraded to 24MP/6P lens (vs. the 12MP/5P lens of iPhone 15 & 16), which will significantly improve the image quality," he writes in a blog post centered on lens manufacturer Genius. "Genius is the primary lens supplier for iPhone front cameras."

Kuo also reports that Genius's "progress on the iPhone 16 Pro's periscope lens is on track." This appears to support previous rumors that the iPhone 16 Pro will be larger than its predecessors, specifically so that it can house the new lens.

Assuming that Apple is unlikely to make the iPhone bigger by adding wider bezels, Kuo expects that the 2024 Pro models will have larger screens. "Replacement demand for the two iPhone 16 Pro models will benefit from the larger screen, increasing shipments by 5-10% compared to the iPhone 15 Pro series," he estimates.

"The ultra-wide camera of the iPhone 16 Pro series will be upgraded to 48MP/0.7um/(1/2.6") (vs. iPhone 15 Pro's 12MP/1.0um/(1/3.6"))", he continues. "The expected output specification is 12MP, which will significantly improve image quality."

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has proved to be a reliable source for supply chain information. In recent years he's tended to blur the line between information received, and his own predictions based on experience, but he does say this lens detail comes from his survey of the supply chain.

Separately, it's been rumored that all models in the iPhone 17 range will get the always-on display technology that's currently reserved for the Pro models.