Official
Apple Confirms iPhone 17 Pro Will Drop Periscope Telephoto in Favor of New 5x Tetraprism System
Key points
- Both iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will ship with the tetraprism system — ending the telephoto gap between the two models.
- The new module is reportedly thinner than the periscope design, contributing to a slightly reduced camera bump.
- Largan Precision confirmed as primary supplier; mass production began March 2026.
- Optical zoom stays at 5x but low-light performance expected to improve ~20% per internal benchmarks.
Summary
(AI)
Apple has confirmed through supply chain partners that the iPhone 17 Pro lineup will move away from the periscope telephoto lens introduced in the iPhone 15 Pro Max, adopting a new tetraprism optical system across both Pro models. The change is expected to improve optical zoom consistency in lower light while reducing the camera bump depth by approximately 0.4mm.
The shift signals Apple’s intent to standardize the telephoto experience across its Pro lineup rather than use it as a differentiator between the Pro and Pro Max. Supply chain sources indicate production of the new lens module has already begun at Largan Precision.
Sources
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