The iPhone 17 could be a photographer’s dream

By Bryan M. Wolfe Published July 24, 2024

Apple’s iPhone 16 series is likely to debut in September. Yet, it increasingly looks like next year’s iPhones could feature the most significant iPhone changes in many years. The latest iPhone 17 rumor comes from The Information, and it’s a good one.

According to the new report, at least some of next year’s iPhone models will ship with a camera with variable aperture. This isn’t a new technology, but it would be the first time it would be on an iPhone.

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Variable aperture means that the maximum aperture changes based on the focal length, so the lens’s widest opening adjusts as you zoom. It’s a good option for anyone who wants a versatile lens for various purposes. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra and Huawei Mate 60 Pro both include variable aperture, but the technology is certainly not what you would call mainstream, at least right now.

Although variable apertures add versatility to photo-taking, they also reduce control over exposure, limit lowlight performance, and may result in lower image quality, as Canon explains.

In recent months, we’ve heard a lot of other information about the iPhone 17 series, which Apple should reveal in September 2025. In July, for example, respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the iPhone 17 Pro models would feature upgraded quad-rear cameras. We also heard that at least one of the iPhone 17 models could feature a slim profile like the one found on the iPad Pro (2024). That model could be called the “iPhone 17 Slim (or Ultra)” and could feature a 6.65-inch LTPO display.

Former Mobile and A/V Freelancer

Bryan M. Wolfe has over a decade of experience as a technology writer. He writes about mobile.

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Phones

I picked four wireless chargers so you can stop making your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch fight over one dorm outlet

The best back-to-school wireless chargers for dorm desks, study spaces, and travel

Computer, Electronics, Laptop

A dorm-room desk can disappear surprisingly quickly beneath a laptop charger, phone cable, Apple Watch puck, and the growing collection of adapters required to power them all. Add textbooks and other academic materials, and finding enough room to study becomes the first assignment of the semester.

A wireless charging stand can consolidate several of those cables into one station. It also gives your phone a dedicated place to sit, which helps when you are checking the time or watching a lecture. Every charger here still needs one connection to the wall. So finding a peripheral that works with all of your gadgets isn't just convenient, it's smart. I picked four models ranging from an inexpensive two-device stand to a fast 25W wireless charger capable of powering an entire Apple setup.

Phones

Your backpack needs one of these power banks before classes start

I picked 4 power banks that can survive your longest day on campus

Anker Nano 3-in-1 10,000mAh portable power bank for iPhone.

Finding an empty outlet on campus can require more patience than registering for a popular class. Common spaces like libraries or lecture halls rarely have sockets in the right places. So a good power bank gives you far more freedom. It gives you the option to choose the quiet corner of the library, work outside between classes, or even finish an assignment without worrying about your laptop's battery.

The right model depends on what you carry, since a phone needs far less power than a MacBook or gaming laptop. I picked four Anker power banks that cover everything from everyday phone charging to running several demanding devices at once.

Phones

The Minimal Phone 2 looks dramatically better than the original, and I’m genuinely here for it

Plastic is out, metal is in, and Minimal Phone 2's renders suggest the digital detox phone concept finally has the hardware to match its ambition.

Electronics, Mobile Phone, Phone

I've been following the Minimal Phone since its initial crowdfunding days. The first iteration had the right idea trapped inside the wrong body, I’d say. Plastic build, no 5G, an underwhelming camera, and e-paper ghosting that frustrated early adopters; all these issues kept the phone from reaching a wider audience.

Now, founder Armen Youssefian has posted what appears to be a 360-degree render of the Minimal Phone 2 on X, and from what I can see, the team has done its homework.