It is reported that the iPhone 17 Air and the standard iPhone 17 will lack a 5x telephoto zoom camera. According to a report by the Korean publication The Elec, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air will not feature a 5x optical zoom telephoto camera. The report states that the quad-prism camera system, which enables 5x optical zoom, will remain exclusive to the Pro models of iPhones in 2025.
In the iPhone 15 Pro Max, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max, the quad-prism camera system, utilizing a folded design, allowed for compact integration into the smartphone’s dimensions, providing 5x optical zoom and 25x digital zoom capabilities. In contrast, the iPhone 15 Pro, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max are limited to 3x optical zoom.
The standard iPhone 16 supports 2x optical zoom, suggesting that the iPhone 17 will likely feature 2x optical zoom as well. The zoom specifications for the iPhone 17 Air remain unclear, though rumors suggest that the thinnest iPhone in Apple’s history might have just a single 48MP camera on its back panel.
Rumors about the iPhone 17 Air have been conflicting so far. On the one hand, it is said to be the thinnest iPhone ever, while on the other, it is speculated to have significant shortcomings compared to the Pro models, potentially making it a tough purchase decision.
Most leaks agree that the iPhone 17 Air will feature a 6.6-inch display. Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known Apple supply chain analyst, previously stated that he expects the device to be equipped with the A19 chip, Dynamic Island, a single rear camera, and Apple’s in-house 5G modem.
