Ryan Christoffel
2025-08-15 11:10:00
9to5mac.com

Apple’s big iPhone unveiling is just weeks away, and a new post from a Weibo leaker hints that there’s a surprise advantage coming to iPhone 17 Pro Max’s camera that may not be available on iPhone 17 Pro.
Telephoto camera on iPhone 17 Pro Max may have unique advantage, per leaker
Every year, Apple tends to do something a little different when it comes to its two Pro models.
Sometimes the smaller and larger iPhone Pro are basically identical apart from size. No specific features are exclusive to one model or the other.
But other years, Apple gives the iPhone Pro Max a unique advantage. Typically this involves the camera system.
For example, the iPhone 15 Pro Max had a 5x optical zoom with its telephoto lens, while iPhone 15 Pro only offered 3x optical. Then last year, iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max returned to feature parity.
It sounds like this year could swing back toward differentiation.
In a new post on Weibo, leaker Instant Digital references a smartphone coming next month that will offer perhaps the strongest telephoto camera yet.
What is that phone? iPhone 17 Pro Max, per the post.

The leaker doesn’t mention specific reasons why the 17 Pro Max alone will be best.
But highlighting only that one model indicates iPhone 17 Pro Max may have an even better telephoto lens than the smaller iPhone 17 Pro.
Both iPhone 17 Pro models have long been rumored to get a 48MP telephoto upgrade.
The current telephoto lens is 12MP, and bumping it to 48MP will make the full trio of rear cameras 48MP.
It’s unlikely Apple will only give the 17 Pro Max this upgrade.
However, it’s very possible Apple has some other unique advantage coming for the Pro Max’s telephoto lens.
For example, perhaps the rumored 8x optical zoom will be Pro Max exclusive?
In any case, with the iPhone event right around the corner, we won’t have to wait long to find out.
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