iOS 17 RC Code Reveals New iPhone 15 Pro "ProRAW Max" and "JPEG Max" Camera Features

Also Night mode, flash, and macro photos limitations

Apple has released the release candidate (RC) version of iOS 17, and code in the build has revealed some new camera features that are coming to the iPhone 15.

One of the most notable changes is that the iPhone 15 will be able to capture 48-megapixel photos at 1x zoom. This is a significant upgrade from the 12-megapixel sensor in the iPhone 14, and it will allow users to take even more detailed photos.

48 MP can be captured on the Main camera at 1×. Night mode, flash, and macro photos will always be saved at 12 MP. Live Photos can be saved at 12 or 24 MP.

However, not all camera modes will support 48 megapixels. Night mode, flash, and macro photos will all be limited to 12 megapixels. This is likely because these modes require faster shutter speeds, which can't be achieved with a higher-resolution sensor.

Live Photos will also be able to be captured at 12 or 24 megapixels (maybe next year’s iPhone 16 will capture 48 MP Max Live Photos). 24 MP Live Photos is a new option that wasn't available on the iPhone 14.

Another limitation is that some of the new “lenses” on the main camera can only capture in the 24 MP mode. This is because these lenses take an image from a subsection of the 48 MP image sensor.

Additional Main camera lenses require 24 MP capture. Choose 24 MP Photo mode captures in the Formats section of Camera Settings.

The code also reveals two new camera settings called “JPEG Max (up to 48 MP)” and "ProRAW Max (up to 48 MP)". These formats will allow users to save photos in full 48 megapixel quality.

Users can expect the following file sizes when capturing photos at the new

24 MP size:

• 3 MB for HEIF at 24 MP

• 4.8 MB for JPEG at 24 MP

• 35 MB for ProRAW at 24 MP

  Compared to 48 MP Size:

• 5 MB for HEIF Max at 48 MP

• 10 MB for JPEG Max at 48 MP

• 75 MB for ProRAW Max at 48 MP

Log is a video format that retains more information in the file, providing additional flexibility when editing color and making adjustments after the video is captured. Log will appear flat and gray before processing adjustments are made.

When a person, dog, or cat is in the frame, you can quickly turn the photo into a Portrait with a beautifully blurred background by tapping the [Portrait] button, or by editing it later in Photos.

The new Log encoding, ACES support,Next-generation portraits, recording in ProRES up to 4K at 60 fps to external storage, Smart HDR 5, Photonic Engine powered Night Mode, and new 24MP super-high-resolution default will only be available on the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max when they are released on Friday, September 22.

The iOS 17 RC is available now for developers and beta testers. It also adds support for HEIF Max, JPEG Max, ProRAW Max to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. And feature for changing the focal point in a Portrait photo when in edit mode is coming to the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. The final version of iOS 17 will be available as a free software update on Monday, Sept. 18.