Halide Team’s iPhone 17 Pro Camera Review: ‘A Tremendous Telephoto Upgrade’

The developers behind Halide, one of the most acclaimed iPhone camera apps, have published an in-depth review of the iPhone 17 Pro’s new camera system after testing it across New York, London, and Iceland. Their verdict? Apple’s latest flagship delivers its most meaningful photographic leap in years—especially in the telephoto department.

All 48MP on the Rear, New 24MP Front Camera

For the first time, all three rear cameras are based on 48-megapixel sensors:

• Main (1x) & Ultra Wide: Same sensors as iPhone 16 Pro, but with improved processing.

• Telephoto (4x / 100mm): A 56% larger sensor, now a centerpiece upgrade.

The front-facing camera has also received its biggest update yet: a 24MP square sensor. Using Apple’s Center Stage system, it outputs 18MP cropped images, allowing reframing for group selfies or horizontal shots—without rotating the phone. The Halide team called it a “brilliantly invisible piece of engineering.”

Processing Power: Smarter Demosaicing, Better Consistency

Apple has introduced deep learning–based demosaicing for its quad-pixel sensors, producing sharper detail and more accurate colors. The team praised:

• Better 2x zoom (sensor crop from Main) compared to last year.

• Color consistency across all lenses.

• Smooth lens transitions when zooming.

But they also flagged a long-standing issue: the Main camera’s inability to focus closely—calling it a “serious UX annoyance.”

Telephoto: The Star of the Show

The new 4x (100mm) telephoto lens was described as a “tremendous upgrade.”

• Detail-rich results from the larger sensor.

• Slight softness that produces flattering portraits.

• Strong low-light performance, though still dependent on Night Mode.

More surprising was the 8x (200mm) zoom, a center crop from the telephoto’s 48MP sensor. Thanks to advanced stabilization, the Halide team called it “truly magical” and astonishing for a phone camera at such a long focal length.

Video & Pro Features

The iPhone 17 Pro also brings new ProRes RAW and genlock video capabilities, which Halide believes will be hugely valuable for professionals and inspire third-party apps such as their own Kino video app.

Design, Cooling & Software

Beyond the cameras, the review also touched on:

• The new aluminum unibody with improved thermal design.

• iOS 26’s “Liquid Glass” UI design refresh.

• A buggy launch experience, which felt “like using a beta.”

Takeaway

The Halide team’s verdict is clear: the iPhone 17 Pro’s telephoto system is a standout, pushing phone photography into new territory with its larger sensor, flattering rendering, and usable 200mm crop zoom.

While processing, design, and even the new Center Stage front camera impressed, Apple still has work to do in areas like close-focusing on the main lens and software stability.

Still, for photographers and videographers, this year’s Pro camera system feels like the biggest leap since the 48MP main sensor debut.