iOS 17.2's biggest change is an iPhone 15 Pro telephoto camera upgrade

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A nice surprise.

An iPhone 15 Pro Max against an abstract multi-colored retro background.
(Image credit: Gerald Lynch / Future / Apple)

iOS 17.2 is a pretty big update with a highly anticipated new Journal app, Apple Music changes, and the Action Button translate option. But perhaps the biggest change is an upgrade to the iPhone 15 Pro’s telephoto lens. Not previously announced in the iOS 17.2 Release Candidate, this surprise update is a welcome addition to the iPhone. 

According to the iOS 17.2 release notes, the following changes have been made to the camera in Apple’s best iPhone, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max: 

  • Spatial video lets you capture video on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max so you can relive your memories in three dimensions on Apple Vision Pro
  • Improved Telephoto camera focusing speed when capturing small faraway objects on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max

Lights, Camera, Action

The spatial video capabilities are interesting too when we think of the launch pattern of iOS updates. iOS 17.1 launched at the end of October, with 17.2 launching in the middle of December. This puts a potential iOS 17.3 at a launch of around February. Given a recent report places the launch of the Vision Pro at some point between January and March, these upgraded spatial video capabilities set up that timeline well.

The telephoto upgrade specifically changes the focus speed of the phone when looking at faraway objects. This means the software can tackle high-zoomed pictures better than otherwise thought. As someone who likes to show off my camera at every opportunity, I can’t wait to test out just how snappy and quick the new camera software upgrade feels. Apple is one of the best companies in the world for integrating software and hardware, this iOS update is just another example. This iOS update also paves the way for telephoto camera upgrades rumored to be coming to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. 

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James Bentley
James Bentley

James is a staff writer and general Jack of all trades at iMore. With news, features, reviews, and guides under his belt, he has always liked Apple for its unique branding and distinctive style. Originally buying a Macbook for music and video production, he has since gone on to join the Apple ecosystem with as many devices as he can fit on his person. 

With a degree in Law and Media and being a little too young to move onto the next step of his law career, James started writing from his bedroom about games, movies, tech, and anything else he could think of. Within months, this turned into a fully-fledged career as a freelance journalist. Before joining iMore, he was a staff writer at Gfinity and saw himself published at sites like TechRadar, NME, and Eurogamer. 

As his extensive portfolio implies, James was predominantly a games journalist before joining iMore and brings with him a unique perspective on Apple itself. When not working, he is trying to catch up with the movies and albums of the year, as well as finally finishing the Yakuza series. If you like Midwest emo music or pretentious indie games that will make you cry, he’ll talk your ear off.