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ZDNET Highlights
- The iPhone 17 bridged the gap between the Pro and base models.
- Yet the iPhone 17 Pro has one big advantage: the camera system.
- Is this enough to justify the difference in price? It depends on your needs.
When Apple released the iPhone 17 lineup last September, it was a big win for base model users. The difference between the Pro and base models became more negligible than ever with the addition of a ProMotion-enabled, brighter and always-on display, an improved selfie camera, and Apple’s hottest new feature, Center Stage. Still, 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 plane trip and it exceeded my expectations (until it didn’t)
In the months since, I’ve alternated between the two phones, taking each on different adventures to really test them both. Despite comparable performance, the iPhone 17 Pro is generally what I gravitate towards as my daily driver. Why? As a camera fan, the difference between the two couldn’t be bigger.
case of telephoto loss
The iPhone 17 Pro features a triple 48MP camera system, upgrading the telephoto sensor to match the 48MP main and ultra-wide lenses found in the previous model. This larger sensor captures more light, producing more balanced colors and natural tones.
Additionally, the optical zoom on the iPhone 16 Pro has been increased from 5x 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 enlarge an image rather than software-based cropping, the Pro model maintains better image integrity and detail at higher zoom levels.
How does telephoto affect 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 further without compromising detail or sharpness thanks to its long telephoto lens. That said, this difference may not matter much for those who mostly photograph everyday scenes, where simply moving closer to the subject can achieve similar results.
For those who enjoy photographing scenery and city landmarks, this is a must-have feature. Whenever 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 some shots, especially portraits.
Having become interested in photography, I have often chosen a telephoto lens for portraits as it produces more attractive results. Shooting from a distance reduces the distortion that photographers call the “big nose” effect, which occurs with wide lenses when you are too close to the subject.
Also: I have a big reason to recommend Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max year-over-year upgrade
A telephoto lens also creates a shallow depth of field, helping to isolate the subject and reduce background distractions. The iPhone’s telephoto lens offers many of the same benefits, though features like Portrait Mode can achieve the same effect with less effort.
final call
I still took absolutely beautiful photos with the iPhone 17. It just depends on how often you take photos and what photos you like to take. If, like me, you’re constantly taking photos and value the flexibility of the extra zoom, the $300 upgrade is worth it.
That said, both phones are very comparable in almost every respect. If the camera isn’t a deal breaker, the investment isn’t worth it. With this in mind, Apple should include a telephoto lens on the base iPhone 18. While this may hurt sales of the Pro, users who want the best overall performance will still gravitate towards the Pro – just like Google did with the Pixel 10, which added a telephoto lens and became a strong alternative to its Pro model.
