In his recent video “Every Year It Gets Better – Until This One”, tech filmmaker Alex Armitage has compared the iPhone 17 Pro directly to a full-frame professional camera, only to reveal that the newest iPhone is not always a clear upgrade.
Every year Apple’s iPhone Pro series arrives with the promise of better cameras, more cinematic quality, and professional-grade image performance. But this time, some things may have taken an unexpected turn.
At the center of the test is the iPhone 17 Pro’s new telephoto camera, which Apple has promoted as a major leap forward. The new sensor is about 56 percent larger than the one in last year’s 16 Pro and adopts a 48-megapixel quad-Bayer design similar to the main camera on previous Pro models.
On paper this should mean richer detail, smoother textures, and better light sensitivity. In bright conditions, Armitage admits the results can look excellent. Fine details like tree leaves and distant landscapes appear sharper, and dynamic range looks improved when shooting outdoors.
However, when he pits the iPhone 17 Pro’s telephoto lens against a Canon R5 with a 70–200 mm lens, the difference becomes clear. The Canon retains more texture and depth, especially in distant subjects. The iPhone’s shots, while bright and clean, often lose the subtle definition that separates a professional camera from a smartphone.
The limitations become more visible as light fades. In low-light tests, Armitage finds that the iPhone’s new telephoto sensor tends to produce “mushy” areas and visible softness. The noise reduction and multi-frame processing, which are meant to improve exposure, often blend fine details away entirely.
Ironically, he notes that the iPhone 16 Pro sometimes delivers cleaner and more balanced photos in those darker scenes. The older sensor, though smaller, seems to handle noise and texture more gracefully without as much aggressive processing.
In his closing thoughts, Armitage strikes a balanced tone. He acknowledges that the iPhone 17 Pro is still one of the most capable camera phones available, but for those expecting a major leap in image performance, especially in telephoto photography, it might disappoint. Watch the full video below and share your eperience with us in the comments section.
Want to see more of our stories on Google?
P.S. Want to keep this site truly independent? Support us by buying us a beer, treating us to a coffee, or shopping through Amazon here. Links in this post are affiliate links, so we earn a tiny commission at no charge to you. Thanks for supporting independent Canadian media!
