Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro introduces several major improvements to its camera system, and early testing is already highlighting noticeable differences compared to the iPhone 16 Pro. In a hands-on video, creator Tyler Stalman shared sample shots taken with both devices and provided detailed insights into where Apple’s latest flagship delivers better performance. His comparisons focus on the selfie camera and telephoto lens, showing how hardware changes are impacting real-world photography.
The new iPhone 17 Pro camera system is not just about higher numbers or additional software features. Instead, the improvements reflect Apple’s decision to redesign sensor sizes and processing behavior in ways that enhance natural detail while avoiding over-processed results. This leads to differences in how images capture fine textures, depth of field, and background separation, which are especially noticeable in portraits and telephoto shots.
From Stalman’s tests, the following differences stand out between the two models:
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Selfie camera: Images from the iPhone 17 Pro are significantly cleaner, with less visible noise and fewer artifacts compared to the iPhone 16 Pro, thanks to the new Center Stage camera. Detail and sharpness are better preserved, while the software applies less aggressive processing.
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Telephoto lens: Apple’s switch to a 8x telephoto lens on the iPhone 17 Pro, paired with a larger sensor, produces images with more natural detail and less artificial sharpening compared to the iPhone 16 Pro’s 5x telephoto lens. The 8x lens is also capable of capturing real optical bokeh thanks to its hardware, creating authentic background blur. The larger sensor in the iPhone 17 Pro’s telephoto lens allows for a shallow depth of field and more realistic separation between subject and background. This unlocks creative opportunities that were not possible with the iPhone 16 Pro’s 5x telephoto lens.
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Image sharpness and processing: Across his comparisons, Stalman emphasized that the iPhone 17 Pro produces less artificially sharpened images, offering a look that leans closer to natural optical quality rather than digital enhancement.
Here’s the complete video:
These findings suggest that Apple’s camera improvements for the iPhone 17 Pro go beyond incremental updates. By adjusting the telephoto range and increasing sensor size, Apple has made meaningful changes that impact how photos look and feel in everyday use. Photographers and casual users alike will notice cleaner selfies, more natural telephoto shots, and greater depth of field control when capturing portraits or distant subjects.
