iPhone 17 Pro leak teases camera, design upgrades: Here's what we know
An anonymous source recently contacted MacRumors claiming to have insider knowledge of the iPhone 17 Pro lineup. The tipster, who says they're familiar with a commercial being produced for the upcoming device, shared a list of alleged features that have not been reported before. While MacRumors itself has not verified the claims, the potential changes are enough to get tech enthusiasts and mobile photography pros buzzing.
Here's what's reportedly in the pipeline:
8× optical zoom is (allegedly) coming
One of the biggest bombshells is a major upgrade to the iPhone 17 Pro's telephoto lens. According to the tipster, the device will offer up to 8× optical zoom, up from the already-impressive 5× zoom on the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The standout feature here? A movable lens mechanism that allows continuous optical zoom across a range of focal lengths.
If true, this could finally give iPhones a serious edge against Samsung's Galaxy S Ultra lineup in the zoom wars, and make the iPhone 17 Pro a genuine contender for the title of best smartphone camera.
Pro camera app
Also in the leak: Apple may be preparing an all-new pro camera app for both photo and video capture, directly aimed at creators who currently rely on third-party tools like Halide, Filmic Pro, or Kino.
It's unclear whether this will be a standalone app exclusive to iPhone 17 Pro models, or a major update to Apple's existing Final Cut Camera app — which launched quietly for pros earlier this year. Either way, the tipster says Apple is aiming for a tool that offers more granular control over things like ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and audio inputs.
If you've ever wished for DSLR-level control in an iPhone camera app without needing to download third-party software, this could be a game-changer.
New button?
The leak also mentions a previously unrumored hardware addition: a second Camera Control button, this time placed on the top edge of the iPhone 17 Pro. This would join the Action Button and existing camera shortcut located on the bottom-right edge of the iPhone 16 models.
Apple seems to be doubling down on tactile camera controls — possibly mirroring the ergonomics of traditional cameras, where a top-mounted shutter button and dial setup is common.
New look?
Beyond the camera features, the source reiterated two previously rumoured design changes: a copper-like color option, said to give the phone a premium, vintage-meets-modern aesthetic, and a centred Apple logo on the back, which is a subtle but deliberate visual shake-up, possibly tied to the new camera layout.
Although here's a catch: all of this information comes from an anonymous tipster with no proven track record. While the details are certainly plausible — and some even match earlier reports — they haven't been corroborated by more established leakers like Mark Gurman or Ming-Chi Kuo.
In other words, caution is advised. Apple's hardware plans are notoriously secretive, and while commercials are often created months ahead of launch, leaks from production houses aren't always accurate.
Still, with the iPhone 17 Pro expected to mark a major design refresh and focus heavily on camera features, these rumours line up with Apple's typical strategy upgrades.
If even half of these predictions come true, the iPhone 17 Pro could become the go-to smartphone for serious mobile photographers and creators.
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