Special imaging test of the iPhone 17 series: "Large sensor" becomes the key

Preface: After the performance test, it's time for the imaging test.

Back in September this year, our team at San Yi Life brought you analyses of the iPhone 17 series launch events and hands - on previews of the new models. Just a few days ago, after a period of waiting and preparation, our performance and gaming test of the iPhone 17 series, titled "Higher Limits, Full - Frame Gaming: Performance Test of the iPhone 17 Series", went live.

From the current "consumer feedback" in the mobile phone industry, performance and gaming are indeed the most "popular" features and are highly valued by many users. However, the design and user experience of the imaging section are often regarded as an aspect that directly reflects a mobile phone manufacturer's "technical strength" and supply - chain depth.

Moreover, considering that Apple has been emphasizing the "imaging productivity" of its iPhones in recent years, we have every reason to conduct a dedicated test on the imaging experience of the new models, including their still - photo and video - shooting capabilities.

Parameter Analysis: Upgraded Sensors Across the Board, Ultra - Wide and Periscope Lenses Are the Highlights

As usual, let's first take a look at the imaging configurations of the iPhone 17 series and the changes they've undergone.

Based on the currently available information, we've summarized the following table. As you can see, compared with the "Pro Max" versions of the previous two generations, the main changes in the imaging hardware of the iPhone 17 Pro Max are concentrated in the periscope telephoto lens.

Compared with the previous IMX913 solution, the new IMX973 sensor has increased in size to 1/2.55 inches, and its pixel count has quadrupled. This theoretically enables the iPhone 17 Pro Max to offer a "lossless zoom" capability equivalent to up to 200mm. Moreover, since the default equivalent focal length of the new periscope telephoto lens has been shortened from 120mm to 100mm, it has enhanced the mid - telephoto portrait - shooting ability of the new device to some extent. After all, a 100mm mid - telephoto lens is more commonly used in portrait photography than a 120mm telephoto lens.

In contrast, since the iPhone 17 has a significantly larger body size, its positioning is closer to the previous "Plus" models in all aspects.

Of course, in terms of the improvement concept of the imaging configuration, the iPhone 17 still shows a certain degree of "path dependence". Similar to the iPhone 16 Plus, it directly uses the same large - sensor ultra - wide lens as the previous flagship. Functionally, the "standard" iPhone of this generation still does not support 4K video recording at 120FPS, and its telephoto capability is also lacking.

However, when comparing the iPhone 17 series with Android phones of the same period, we find that the competitors of the iPhone 17 series generally abandoned the 1 - inch large - sensor main camera and significantly reduced the size of the ultra - wide sensors (many flagship Android phones have ultra - wide sensors of less than 1/2.7 inches).

As a result, the issue of "iPhone's imaging sensors not being large enough", which was often criticized by some professional users in the past, is no longer a problem. After all, the IMX858, a common secondary - camera solution used in many "Ultra" models in the Android camp, has similar specifications to the IMX972 and IMX973 on the iPhone. Especially in the "non - Pro" market, the iPhone 17 may actually be the model with the highest - spec ultra - wide configuration available, if not the only one.

Sample Photos of the iPhone 17: One of the Best Ultra - Wide Lenses of the Year, with Improved Optical Quality

Now, let's take a look at the imaging performance of the iPhone 17.

ISO40 14mm f2.2 1/638s

ISO50 26mm f1.6 1/1587s

ISO32 52mm f1.6 1/2364s

ISO32 109mm f1.6 1/3279s

First, let's start with the basic zoom test. From the images, the iPhone 17 doesn't show a significant decline in resolution at the equivalent 52mm mode. Of course, when zooming in further, due to the lack of a physical telephoto lens, it may be at a slight disadvantage. However, the clarity of the distant scene is still "usable".

ISO50 26mm f1.6 1/122s

ISO50 26mm f1.6 1/2639s

ISO64 26mm f1.6 1/2451s

ISO50 26mm f1.6 1/1420s

Secondly, compared with other similar models on the market, the wide - angle main camera of the iPhone 17 has a "sensor size" that is not inferior, while its field of view is slightly "narrower" than the common 23mm design.

ISO50 14mm f2.2 1/301s

ISO40 14mm f2.2 1/760s

ISO25 14mm f2.2 1/3125s

For the "standard" iPhone of this generation, since it has a much larger ultra - wide sensor than before, the iPhone 17 may "naturally" not need a wider main camera. Moreover, from the imaging results of the above sample photos, the ultra - wide lens of the iPhone 17 not only benefits from the high resolution and high dynamic range brought by the large sensor but also has anti - glare and anti - reflection qualities that are far superior to those of its ultra - small - sensor competitors of the same period.

ISO40 52mm f1.6 1/173s

ISO32 52mm f1.6 1/1799s

ISO40 52mm f1.6 1/4065s

ISO50 52mm f1.6 1/959s

ISO32 52mm f1.6 1/2283s

Finally, it has to be said that the "lossless zoom" of the iPhone 17 this time gives a more "lossless" feeling compared to other similar models of the same period. Although it is achieved through sensor cropping and a "fusion algorithm", from the imaging results of the sample photos, the iPhone