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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The iPhone 17 bridged the gap between Pro and base models.
- Yet the iPhone 17 Pro has one big advantage: the camera system.
- Is it enough to justify the price difference? It depends on your needs.
When Apple released the iPhone 17 lineup last September, it was a big win for base model users. The addition of a ProMotion-enabled, brighter, and Always-on display, an improved selfie camera, and Apple’s flashiest new feature, Center Stage, made the differences between Pro and base models more negligible than ever. Yet, from my initial review of the iPhone 17, one thing left me wanting more: the rear camera system.
Also: I took the iPhone 17 on a trip to Hawaii, and it surpassed my expectations (until it didn’t)
In the months since, I have alternated between the two phones, taking each on different adventures to truly put them both to the test. Despite comparable performance, the iPhone 17 Pro is generally what I have gravitated toward as my daily driver. Why? As a camera aficionado, the gap between the two couldn’t be bigger.
The case of the missing telephoto
The iPhone 17 Pro features a triple 48MP camera system, upgrading the Telephoto sensor to match the 48MP Main and Ultra Wide lenses found on the previous model. This larger sensor captures more light, producing more balanced colors and natural tones.
Additionally, the optical zoom has been increased from 5x on the iPhone 16 Pro to 8x, allowing for sharper long-range shots and higher-quality crops without the resolution loss typically seen in digital zoom.
Also: I tested the iPhone Air for a week, and here’s why 17 Pro Max users shouldn’t sleep on it
In contrast, the standard iPhone 17 uses a dual-camera system and lacks a dedicated telephoto lens. This hardware difference limits the standard model to 2x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom, while the Pro model reaches 8x optical and 40x digital zoom.
Because optical zoom uses the physical lens to magnify an image rather than software-based cropping, the Pro model maintains significantly better image integrity and detail at higher zoom levels.
How does the telephoto impact photos?
I included a side-by-side comparison of both smartphone cameras, zoomed in on the same distant subject. As you can see, the iPhone 17 Pro reaches much farther without sacrificing detail or sharpness, thanks to its longer telephoto lens. That said, this difference may not matter much for people who mostly photograph everyday scenes, where simply moving closer to the subject can achieve similar results.
For someone who enjoys photographing scenery and city landmarks, this is a must-have feature. Every time I pick up the iPhone 17, I immediately notice — and get frustrated by — the limited zoom range. Beyond reach, the telephoto lens also improves the quality of certain shots, especially portraits.
Having dabbled in photography, I’ve often chosen a telephoto lens for portraits because it produces more flattering results. Shooting from farther away reduces distortion, avoiding what photographers call the “big nose” effect that happens with wide lenses when you’re too close to the subject.
Also: I’ve got one big reason to recommend a year-over-year upgrade to Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max
The telephoto lens also creates a shallower depth of field, helping isolate the subject and minimize background distractions. The iPhone’s telephoto lens offers many of the same benefits, though features like Portrait mode can achieve a similar effect with less effort.
Final verdict
I’ve still taken absolutely beautiful photos with the iPhone 17. It just comes down to how often you shoot and what you like to photograph. If, like me, you’re constantly taking photos and value the flexibility of extra zoom, the $300 upgrade is worth it.
That said, the two phones are very comparable in nearly every other respect. If the camera isn’t a deal breaker, the investment likely isn’t justified. With that in mind, Apple should include a telephoto lens on the base iPhone 18. While this could impact Pro sales, users who want the best overall performance will still gravitate toward the Pro — much like Google did with the Pixel 10, which added a telephoto lens and became a stronger alternative to its Pro models.
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