Apple rolled out the Release Candidate (RC) version of its iOS 17 software yesterday, revealing a host of new camera features exclusive to the upcoming iPhone 15 series. The RC version is currently available to developers and beta testers, with the final version scheduled for release on Monday, September 18.
One of the standout features is the iPhone 15’s ability to capture 48-megapixel (MP) photos at 1x zoom, a significant leap from the 12 MP sensor in the iPhone 14. However, not all camera modes will support this high resolution. Night mode, flash, and macro photos will be limited to 12 MP due to the need for faster shutter speeds.
Live Photos can now be captured at either 12 or 24 MP, with the latter being a new addition not available in the iPhone 14. Some of the new “lenses” on the main camera will only support 24 MP capture, as they utilize a subsection of the 48 MP sensor.
According to Steve Moser from The Tape Drive, iOS 17 code reveals more info about iPhone 15 cameras and also reveals files sizes of photos taken at 24MP and 48MP:
Two new camera settings, “JPEG Max (up to 48 MP)” and “ProRAW Max (up to 48 MP),” have been introduced, allowing users to save photos in full 48 MP quality. The camera also includes a Log video format that provides more flexibility in post-production editing.
The new camera features are set to be available only on the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max, which are slated for release on Friday, September 22.
In addition to camera improvements, iOS 17 RC includes other changes like a new Standby mode to show glanceable info when your iPhone is charging, interactive Home Screen widgets, and a feature called NameDrop.
Standby mode also leverages always-on mode with iPhone 14 and newer devices, while interactive Home Screen widgets allow for more dynamic interactions without opening the respective apps.
For those interested in the new camera features, they will be exclusive to the iPhone 15 series, set to hit the market on September 22.
