Revealed: iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max LiDAR, camera features, 'leaks' sources

Rumours and insider scoops are flying fast and furious, teasing us with tidbits about lens upgrades, slick new design twists, and a tasty lineup of iPhone 17 variants.

So, what’s the scoop?

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are rumoured to sport a totally revamped camera setup, ditching the classic vertical layout for a horizontal camera bar that screams bold and modern.

Think of it as Apple’s nod to the Pixel phone’s style — but with that unmistakably sleek Apple polish.

The telephoto lens? It’s not just zooming in a little farther — it’s rumored to offer a whopping 8x optical zoom. That’s a serious upgrade for all the selfie and photography junkies (and vloggers) who want to capture every detail from afar.

So where do the leaks come from?

Stay tuned — as this iPhone story is just getting started:

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are widely rumoured to bring major upgrades, say a number of leakers.

The standout rumour: an 8x optical zoom (telephoto) lens – this is marked improvement over the 5x zoom found in the iPhone 16 Pro Max. 

This reportedly supports “continuous optical zoom” by manually adjusting lens elements for smooth focal length changes.  The main sensor on Pro Max might be a 48-megapixel (MP) unit, as per Macrumors.

Additionally, tech media site Mashable, quoting leakers, speculates that the front-facing cameras across the lineup are due to be upgraded to a 24-MP sensor, enhancing selfies and video calls. 

A new professional-grade camera app exclusive to Pro models may debut.

But what for? For one, there are reported “manual” controls and possibly the ability to record simultaneously from front and rear cameras, as per Macrumours. 

Triple cameras are not new to high-end iPhones. But now, instead of the usual vertical arrangement, the iPhone 17 Pro’s triple rear cameras are reportedly laid out horizontally within a larger rectangular camera bump. 

This shift resembles the Google Pixel's camera bar and necessitates Apple moving the logo lower inside a glass cutout to preserve wireless charging capabilities.

All iPhone 17 models, including the new iPhone 17 Air, are expected to get front-facing cameras upgraded from 12MP to 24MP, improving selfie and video call quality significantly.

This upgrade enhances the device's ability to capture distant subjects in detail, supposedly without quality loss.

Rumours also mention a new professional camera app tailored for the iPhone 17 Pro models, designed to rival popular third-party apps such as Halide and Filmic Pro. 

This app could include features like simultaneous front and rear camera recording — for example, overlaying a selfie video on top of outward footage for vloggers or content creators.

Improved light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors on the iPhone 17 would work alongside these enhancements.

LiDAR works by emitting laser pulses that measure the precise distance to objects in the environment.

Note: The sensor does not capture images directly. 

Rather, it works alongside the camera’s image processor (digital signal processor) to enhance focus, depth sensing, augmented reality (AR), and video effects.

In theory, it would also capture better portrait shots with improved depth data for enhanced background blur and subject separation.

Translation: would function primarily to further enhance depth mapping and improve camera performance, especially in low-light and portrait photography.

Moreover, this would enable advanced AR experiences by creating detailed 3D models of the surroundings, which helps place virtual objects more realistically in the environment.

The iPhones fitted with LiDAR are exclusively the Pro variants starting from the iPhone 12 Pro series (launched in 2020), leakers claim.

Regarding the iPhone 17 variants, the LiDAR sensor is expected to be fitted exclusively on the Pro models (iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max) – consistent with Apple's practice since the iPhone 12 Pro series. 

The base iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air variants are unlikely to have LiDAR sensors – but don’t count on this bold prediction until Apple says it is so.

Leaked images purportedly of an iPhone 17 Pro prototype show the device in a thick black case with silver rings around the cameras. The camera module layout also shifts, with sensor and flash moving to the right, consistent with recent mockups and rumours. 

The Apple logo may be repositioned lower on the back panel towards the bottom center, a significant aesthetic change since the iPhone X era. 

The rear panel material may also change, claims leaker Majin Bu. It would feature an aluminum-and-glass mix with an aluminum frame replacing the titanium frame used on recent Pro models.

Bu is a prominent tech researcher known especially for early and detailed leaks about upcoming Apple products, including the iPhone 17 series in 2025. 

He has been recognised for sharing high-quality images, videos, renders, and reliable info related to Apple’s hardware design, colour options, and feature changes prior to official announcements.

Who are the leakers?

Anonymous insiders usually work with Apple’s commercial partners, such as those involved in product filming or supply chain logistics. 

A tipster involved in Apple’s commercial production leaked details about the iPhone 17’s camera system to MacRumors.

Besides Bu, there are others including Ming-Chi Kuo, a prolific tech analyst, who is deemed to have sources generally believed to be within Apple’s supply chain or manufacturing partners. 

Jeff Pu, who has reliable connections in Apple’s supply chain ecosystem, also belongs to this tech-leak camp.

The iPhone 17 leaks highlight a significant design evolution, with major camera improvements. The lineup diversification with the iPhone 17 Air and new colour variants also aims to broaden appeal ahead of the official release.

Apple's official launch event is anticipated in the first or second week of September 2025, with the iPhone 17 series running iOS 26.

All final specifications and features will be confirmed then.