Next year’s iPhone 17 Pro Max is set to feature a significant upgrade with a 48-megapixel Tetraprism camera, improving photo quality and zoom capabilities. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that this change is a leap from the 12-megapixel sensor used in the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro models. The new camera will feature a 1/2.6″ 48MP CIS sensor, enhancing the photographic experience for users.
Kuo indicates that the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will also incorporate Tetraprism telephoto lenses, which had previously been exclusive to the larger Pro Max models in the iPhone 15 series. This means that both new iPhone 16 Pro versions will offer at least 5x optical zoom and a minimum of 25x digital zoom, a notable advancement from earlier models. While Kuo has not confirmed whether the upgraded Tetraprism feature will be exclusive to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, he suggests that if it is, the iPhone 18 Pro models will likely inherit this technology in 2026.
Designing these new prisms requires careful engineering to ensure they are more compact, which is essential for reducing the camera’s height. This report aligns with earlier assertions by Jeff Pu from Haitong International Securities, who mentioned that the new telephoto lens would be optimized for the Apple Vision Pro. Current models can record spatial video with 3D depth, offering a glimpse into the advanced capabilities of the upcoming iPhone.
Looking ahead to 2027, Kuo suggests that future iterations may feature an even more advanced Tetraprism camera, aiming for improved optical zoom and an increase in prism quantity, which poses additional design challenges. If realized, such advancements would mark a remarkable evolution in iPhone camera technology.
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