Even though the iPhone 17’s launch is still a ways off until 2026, rumors about Apple’s next-generation flagship are already circulating. The latest leak points to an update to the front camera. According to analyst Jeff Pu, who took the research note MacRumorsAll four iPhone 17 models (the base model, the version traditionally called “Slim”, and the Pro and Pro Max variants) will be equipped with a 24-megapixel front camera. .

Apple started using a 12-megapixel selfie camera with the iPhone 11 and continued with the current iPhone 15 Pro Max. Jeff Pu’s leak suggests that the iPhone 16 series will also feature a 12-megapixel front-facing camera, with the upgrade eventually coming to the iPhone 17 series. The increased megapixel count should result in sharper, more detailed images. The rumored 24-megapixel camera is expected to feature a six-element plastic lens, which should provide additional benefits.

Jeff Pu predicts that low-light performance could improve significantly, allowing for clearer selfies and video calls in less-than-ideal lighting conditions. Augmented reality (AR) apps that rely heavily on accurate depth perception could also benefit from improved camera settings.

In addition, Apple’s Face ID facial recognition system, already a leader in smartphone security, could become even more accurate with an updated camera. Rumors about the iPhone 17’s front camera are gaining credence if you take into account analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s previous prediction. In January 2024, Kuo also suggested that Apple would equip the iPhone 17 series with a 24-megapixel front camera with a six-element lens.

The possibility of a significantly improved front camera on the iPhone 17 is looking increasingly likely, with two respected analysts, both Pu and Kuo, pointing to the same update.

With more than a year to go until the official release, details about the iPhone 17 are likely to remain vague, but these early leaks do give us a glimpse into what Apple could be focusing its efforts on for its 2026 flagship series.