The iPhone 17 Pro could feature a shorter optical zoom than its predecessor, and this could be beneficial.

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max lineup is expected to feature an improved telephoto lens, which would include a 48 MP sensor instead of the 12 MP one used in the iPhone 16 Pro. It has recently been indicated that the new camera system will offer a 3.5x optical zoom, with the possibility of reaching up to 5x and 7x through lossless cropping, thus providing greater flexibility in photography.

According to information provided by the source, this suggests a different approach to how zoom is achieved. The mention of lossless cropping implies that the system would be designed to take advantage of the high resolution of the 48 MP sensor, allowing the camera to capture 3.5x images at maximum quality, and then crop to achieve magnifications of up to 5x or 7x, although with a reduction in the number of megapixels.

This concept is not new for Apple, as the iPhone 16 already featured a 48 MP main sensor capable of taking optical quality photos at 2x in 12 MP. Therefore, it wouldn’t be surprising if the company extended this functionality to the telephoto lens. This way, the change could be beneficial, as users would not only have access to 5x zoom but also to shorter and longer focusing distances.

Moreover, the ability to take images at 3.5x and in full 48 MP quality could be particularly appealing to those who take portraits, as this distance is generally more useful than the longer zoom.

However, it is essential to consider that while this information seems credible, it is wise to take it with caution, as the source has a somewhat variable track record and the launch of the iPhone 17 series is still several months away, likely scheduled for September.