Alleged iPhone 17 Pro test unit spotted in public with mysterious addition
A closer look at the image reveals several details that corroborate to previously leaked rumours and also reveals something new. Here is what we know about the alleged iPhone 17 Pro test unit.
iPhone 17 Pro Test Unit? What It Revealed
On the iPhone in the man's hand, two sensors (could be the flash and LiDAR) are positioned on the far right of the rear panel, similar to what has been seen in previously leaked dummies, renders and images. Multiple tipsters have claimed that Apple will extend the camera module to the far right, and this image appears to support that.
However, a new, mysterious cutout is present on the top of the phone. Just above the triple-camera setup, there is a cutout. Reports suggest that this could be a second Camera Control feature for the Pro models.
Now, things get interesting because MacRumors, earlier this week, reported that a tipster contacted the publication claiming that the iPhone 17 Pro will have a second Camera Control button placed on top of the device, which would complement the existing Camera Control button.
This new leak, coupled with the MacRumors story, adds weight to this theory. The tipster also told MacRumors that Apple could be working on an 8x optical zoom feature, a big increase from the 5x zoom on current iPhones.
This seems a little odd, however, as an 8x zoom on the third camera would limit the options for portrait mode. Therefore, it depends on the implementation.
Our take (based on what reports say) is that Apple will likely opt for a higher-resolution telephoto camera with an approximately 3.5x optical zoom range. It could then use in-sensor zooming, similar to the base iPhone 16 and iPhone 16e, to achieve a 2x crop. A 2x crop of this 3.5x zoom would result in an approximately 7x zoom, which is how Apple could achieve near-optical quality at that range.
New Camera App Could Be In The Works Too
The tipster also added that Apple might be developing an entirely new Pro camera app for the iPhone 17 Pro models, for both photos and videos. This would certainly be an interesting addition, as many users have commented that while Apple's camera systems are of a professional standard, they can be somewhat limiting, requiring reliance on third-party apps like Blackmagic Camera to achieve the ideal footage.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
43 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
iPhone 17 Air is likely to adopt iPhone 16 Pro's metal battery cover, but at a cost
Apple is expected to launch the new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air next month. This new model is likely to take the place of the Plus variant and will compete with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge due to its slimness. Over the past few months, several rumours surrounding the iPhone 17 Air have surfaced, giving us a glimpse of what Apple may reveal. Now, in a latest leak, the ultra-thin iPhone's battery pack image was leaked, showcasing an iPhone 16 Pro-like metal cover. However, the lower battery capacity could still be a major concern for buyers. iPhone 17 Air's lower battery capacity could be a major concern; here's what we know so far.(Majin Bu) Also read: iPhone 17 Air likely to get 12GB RAM upgrade: Know what's coming iPhone 17 Air battery A tipster who goes by the name Majin Bu on X (formerly Twitter) shared an image post revealing an L-shaped battery pack of the iPhone 17 Air. In the image, the battery pack consisted of a metal casing, similar to what the iPhone 16 Pro model has to manage heat dissipation. It was further highlighted that the battery could pack about a 2,900 mAh battery, since the iPhone 17 Air is expected to be 5.5mm slim in measure. While the smartphone is expected to get a Pro upgrade, it will likely retain the lower battery capacity as expected earlier. Therefore, the iPhone 17 Air could have the shortest battery life among other latest iPhone models. Despite these expected shortcomings, the smartphone is expected to come with a phone case with an integrated battery pack. While it will be sold separately, but it could give buyers a few extra hours of run time. Apart from the optional phone case, the iOS 26 will also come with a new 'Adaptive Power Mode' that will reduce background activities to increase the battery life of the smartphone. Also read: iPhone 17e is already in planning for 2026 launch- Here's what Apple may do iPhone 17 Air: What to expect While many of us are concerned about iPhone 17 Air's battery life, the smartphone is also expected to offer some powerful features. Firstly, it will likely be backed by the A19 chip coupled with 12GB RAM. The ultra-thin iPhone could feature a 48MP single rear camera and a 24MP selfie camera. The smartphone is also expected to feature a 6.5-inch OLED display that could offer a 120Hz refresh rate. Lastly, it is expected to feature MagSafe charging, a Camera Control button, and an Action Button, despite having a slimmer build. Therefore, apart from battery and camera compromises, the iPhone 17 Air looks quite promising.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Apple's tariff-fueled iPhone sales surge raises doubts about sustainability
Apple's best revenue growth in three years failed to impress, with shares down about 1% in volatile trading on Friday, as investors questioned whether a tariff-driven surge in iPhone sales would last. A rush to buy iPhones ahead of potential U.S. tariff-driven price increases, along with China subsidies and upbeat demand for the budget 16e model launched in February, fueled a 13.5% jump in the quarterly sales of the device, crushing expectations. That pushed up total revenue by a better-than-expected 10% in the April-June period, and Apple issued an above-estimate sales forecast for the current quarter ending in September. The results came at a precarious time for the company long seen as Big Tech's safest bet. Beyond the tariff threats facing its manufacturing hubs China and India, Apple has been slow to move on artificial intelligence technology that its software and devices rivals have embraced as their next big growth driver. Analysts said the sales rebound in China, where local rivals have moved faster than Apple on AI features, was a positive. The company benefited in the world's largest smartphone market from a state subsidy program meant to prop up device sales. But they also warned the 'pull-in' boost was expected to be temporary, raising doubts about demand for the rest of the year. 'Pull-forward, remember, is not a U.S. issue. It's also a China issue. There, Apple's Pro model iPhones were too expensive to qualify for Chinese government subsidies that were being offered … so they cut prices to qualify, leaning into the volume opportunity. It worked,' MoffettNathanson analysts said. 'But as with the U.S., what does that mean for the rest of the year?' So far this year, Apple stock has underperformed all its 'Magnificent Seven' peers barring Tesla, with a decline of more than 17%. The S&P has risen 7.8% in the period Many of Apple's products are currently exempt from tariffs, and the company has also been rebalancing its supply chain to shield itself from the duties, sourcing iPhones from India and other products such as Macs and Apple Watches from Vietnam. The U.S. is currently negotiating trade deals with both China and India, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying India could face 25% tariffs as early as Friday. Apple said tariffs would raise costs by $1.1 billion in the current quarter after the company said it took an $800 million hit from tariffs in the third quarter. Its AI strategy also remains a concern after Apple delayed the release of an AI-enhanced version of Siri virtual assistant and was slow to launch Apple Intelligence. CEO Tim Cook said on Thursday the company was making good progress on Siri and that Apple is 'significantly growing' its investments in AI. 'Brand loyalty gives Apple time to get the AI transition right, but it needs to start delivering,' said Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
4 hours ago
- Business Standard
Apple CEO tells employees AI is 'ours to grab' in rare hour-long pep talk
Apple Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook, holding a rare all-hands meeting following earnings results, rallied employees around the company's artificial intelligence prospects and an 'amazing' pipeline of products. The executive gathered staff at Apple's on-campus auditorium Friday in Cupertino, California, telling them that the AI revolution is 'as big or bigger' as the internet, smartphones, cloud computing and apps. 'Apple must do this. Apple will do this. This is sort of ours to grab,' Cook told employees, according to people aware of the meeting. 'We will make the investment to do it.' The iPhone maker has been late to AI, debuting Apple Intelligence months after OpenAI, Alphabet Inc.'s Google, Microsoft Corp. and others flooded the market with products like ChatGPT. And when Apple finally released its AI tools, they fell flat. But Cook struck an optimistic tone, noting that Apple is typically late to promising new technologies. But Apple invented the 'modern' versions of those product categories, he said. 'This is how I feel about AI.' An Apple spokesperson declined to comment on the gathering. The hourlong meeting addressed a range of topics, including the retirement of operating chief Jeff Williams, increasing Apple TV+ viewership and advances in health care with features like the AirPods Pro hearing-aid technology. It also touched on donations and community service by Apple employees, the company's goal to become carbon neutral by 2030, and the impact of regulations. 'The reality is that Big Tech is under a lot of scrutiny around the world,' Cook said. 'We need to continue to push on the intention of the regulation and get them to offer that up, instead of these things that destroy the user experience and user privacy and security.' Cook often holds town hall-style chats when visiting Apple's offices around the world, but companywide meetings from the Steve Jobs Theater at headquarters are unusual. The remarks followed a blockbuster earnings report, with sales growing nearly 10 per cent during the June quarter. That beat Wall Street expectations and eased concerns about iPhone demand and a slowdown in China. Apple still faces myriad challenges, including Trump administration tariffs and a regulatory crackdown on its business practices. The company said Thursday that tariffs would bring a $1.1 billion headwind this quarter, though Apple was upbeat about sales growth. It also said that App Store revenue rose by a percentage in the double digits last quarter, despite efforts in the EU and elsewhere to further restrict that business. Echoing comments he made during the earnings conference call, Cook told employees the company is investing in AI in a 'big way.' He said 12,000 workers were hired in the last year, with 40 per cent of the new hires joining in research and development roles. Apple's chip development efforts, led by executive Johny Srouji, are key to the company's AI strategy, Cook said. Apple is working on a more powerful cloud-computing chip — code-named Baltra — to power artificial intelligence features, Bloomberg News has reported. It's also setting up a new AI server manufacturing facility in Houston. The meeting included Craig Federighi, senior vice president of software engineering, who discussed the future of Apple's Siri voice assistant. The company had planned to roll out a Siri overhaul as part of Apple Intelligence earlier this year, adding the ability to tap into user data to better fulfill requests. It was delayed, spurring management changes for the company's AI work. Federighi explained that the problem was caused by trying to roll out a version of Siri that merged two different systems: one for handling current commands — like setting timers — and another based on large language models, the software behind generative AI. 'We initially wanted to do a hybrid architecture, but we realized that approach wasn't going to get us to Apple quality,' Federighi said. Now, Apple is working on a version of Siri that moves to an entirely new architecture for all of its capabilities. That iteration is slated for as early as spring, Bloomberg News has reported, though Apple executives haven't confirmed a timeline other than a release next year. 'The work we've done on this end-to-end revamp of Siri has given us the results we needed,' the engineering executive told employees. 'This has put us in a position to not just deliver what we announced, but to deliver a much bigger upgrade than we envisioned. There is no project people are taking more seriously.' Federighi cited leadership changes, including putting Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell and his headset software leadership team in charge of Siri, as a driving force in improving the product. He said Rockwell and his group have 'supercharged' the company's work in the area. In his speech, Cook also pushed employees to move more quickly to weave AI into their work and future products. 'All of us are using AI in a significant way already, and we must use it as a company as well,' Cook said. 'To not do so would be to be left behind, and we can't do that.' Employees should push to deploy AI tools faster, and urge their managers and service and support teams to do the same, he said. Cook also addressed the company's retail strategy, stressing that the current plan is to focus on opening new stores in emerging markets and upping the investment in Apple's online store. The iPhone maker is opening outlets in India, the United Arab Emirates and China this year, and is preparing to add its first location in Saudi Arabia next year. 'We need to be in more countries, and you'll see us go into more emerging markets in particular,' Cook said. That doesn't mean Apple will ignore other places, he said, but a 'disproportionate amount of growth' will be in new areas. The CEO also shared his enthusiasm about upcoming products, though he didn't get specific. 'I have never felt so much excitement and so much energy before as right now,' he said. Bloomberg News has previously reported that Apple plans to launch its first foldable iPhone next year and is also working on a stream of smart home devices. New headset products, smart glasses, a push into robotics and a redesigned iPhone for the two-decade anniversary are also underway. 'The product pipeline, which I can't talk about: It's amazing, guys. It's amazing,' Cook said. 'Some of it you'll see soon, some of it will come later, but there's a lot to see.'
