The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will both benefit from 48-megapixel sensors for all cameras on the rear, according to one prolific leaker.
Rear cameras on an iPhone
Apple's iPhone camera system is frequently the topic of rumors, and the iPhone 17 Pro's cameras are no different. If believed, the latest circulating rumor will make the Pro models in 2025 the best iPhone camera system ever.
The rumor, posted by "Digital Chat Station" on Weibo on Friday, makes the claim that the three camera sensors on the back of the Pro models will all use 48-megapixel sensors. Digital Chat Station adds that the Telephoto camera will still have a 5-times magnification, and will use "glass plastic lenses."
The Ultra Wide and main Fusion cameras in the iPhone 16 Pro are already at 48-megapixels. However, the existing Telephoto is at 12 megapixels, making the new version four times the resolution.
The leaker also mentions that the front camera will be upgraded to 24 megapixels, double that of the existing TrueDepth camera array.
A reasonable rumor
Digital Chat Station is a fairly prolific leaker, but while these claims could easily be an educated guess, others in the rumor mill have offered similar proclamations in the past.
In July, Ming-Chi Kuo covered how the telephoto lens in the iPhone 17 would go from a 12MP Contact Image Sensor to a 48MP version. Jeff Pu made a similar claim in December, complete with the 48MP sensor for the telephoto lens.
Previous rumors have also covered the prospect of a 24MP upgrade to the front camera.
Using these rumors and a basic expectation of how cameras have upgraded in recent models, it seems very plausible for Apple to continue the trend and shift the Telephoto to 48MP sooner rather than later.
These aren't the only rumors pertaining to the rear camera. There have been dodgy claims and counterclaims that Apple could overhaul the rear camera arrangement.