Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple could use 24MP front cameras across its iPhone 17 lineup in 2025. This will even include the rumored new iPhone 17 ‘Slim,’ which will supposedly stand out with its sleek and slim design.
As per Hatong analyst Jeff Pu, the new selfie camera might use a 6-element plastic lens.
iPhone 17’s selfie camera might get a big resolution upgrade
Apple currently uses a 12MP front camera on all iPhones. It has been using a 12MP sensor since the 2019 iPhone 11, though the sensor has received upgrades for better sharpness and wider viewing angle. This year’s iPhone 16 is not rumored to pack any selfie camera upgrades, either. However, for 2025, Apple is planning a big upgrade by using a 24MP selfie camera.
In its latest research note, as seen by MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu claims Apple will upgrade the iPhone 17 lineup to a 24MP selfie shooter. Switching to a 24MP sensor with a 6P lens should significantly improve image quality. The higher resolution will allow Apple to use pixel binning to capture detailed 12MP pictures.
Reputed Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also previously claimed that the 2025 iPhone 17 will ship with a 24MP TrueDepth camera and a 6P lens. Pu’s analysis adds more credence to this rumor.
Apple is moving away from 12MP cameras
With the iPhone 14 Pro in 2022, Apple upgraded the primary camera from 12MP to a bigger, higher-resolution 48MP sensor. This year, rumors indicate the Ultra Wide camera could get a bump to 48MP resolution. For 2025, Apple seemingly plans to upgrade its current 12MP 5x tetra prism sensor to 48MP resolution for better image quality.
A higher resolution sensor does not necessarily mean better image quality. However, in Apple’s case, the new 48MP sensor should also be bigger, allowing for more light intake. Plus, the company can then use pixel binning to capture more detailed 12MP or 24MP photos, as seen on the iPhone 15 series.