iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro: I didn't expect one camera spec to make such a big difference

"When Apple released the iPhone 17 lineup last September, it was a big win for base model users. The addition of a ProMotion-enabled, brighter, and Always-on display, an improved selfie camera, and Apple's flashiest new feature, Center Stage, made the differences between Pro and base models more negligible than ever. Yet, from my initial review of the iPhone 17, one thing left me wanting more: the rear camera system."

"The iPhone 17 Pro features a triple 48MP camera system, upgrading the Telephoto sensor to match the 48MP Main and Ultra Wide lenses found on the previous model. This larger sensor captures more light, producing more balanced colors and natural tones. Additionally, the optical zoom has been increased from 5x on the iPhone 16 Pro to 8x, allowing for sharper long-range shots and higher-quality crops without the resolution loss typically seen in digital zoom."

"Also: I took the iPhone 17 on a trip to Hawaii, and it surpassed my expectations (until it didn't) In the months since, I have alternated between the two phones, taking each on different adventures to truly put them both to the test. Despite comparable performance, the iPhone 17 Pro is generally what I have gravitated toward as my daily driver. Why? As a camera aficionado, the gap between the two couldn't be bigger."

iPhone 17 base models gained ProMotion-enabled brighter Always-on displays, an improved selfie camera, and Center Stage, narrowing differences with Pro models. The iPhone 17 Pro retains a distinct advantage in the rear camera system with a triple 48MP setup and an upgraded telephoto sensor that captures more light, produces balanced colors, and renders natural tones. Optical zoom on the Pro increased to 8x from 5x, improving long-range sharpness and crop quality. The standard iPhone 17 uses a dual-camera array without a telephoto lens, limiting it to 2x optical and 10x digital zoom compared with the Pro's 8x optical and 40x digital zoom. Camera performance strongly influences daily preference for photographers.

Read at ZDNET