The Secret of iPhone 17

Apple claims to have "redefined" the front camera on the iPhone 17 thanks to a square sensor and a series of algorithms that automatically optimize photos.

iPhone 17 front camera. Photo: Macworld .

The iPhone 17 and iPhone Air series have many camera upgrades. The highlight is the front camera with a square sensor, allowing you to take horizontal selfies without having to rotate the phone.

In an interview with Business World , an Apple representative shared the idea, reasons, and process of improving the front camera on the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air. Not only does it increase convenience, the new sensor also improves photo quality and many other factors.

Behind the new camera of iPhone 17

Apple brings the Center Stage camera idea from the iPad to the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air. When shooting video , the device automatically activates Action Mode.

Jon McCormack, Director of Camera Software at Apple, said these changes come from research into usage habits, not simply a feature race.

“Last year, people around the world took about 500 billion selfies with their iPhones,” McCormack said, citing figures Apple released in September.

Jon McCormack, Director of Camera Software at Apple. Photo: SuppliedApple .

While the statistical method is not specified, the message above shows that selfies have become a trend in mobile photography. Research from Apple points out some shortcomings in the selfie experience.

“We saw selfie sticks, people switching to 0.5x wide-angle mode, turning their iPhones sideways, even handing the phone to the tallest person, stretching their arms out to take the photo.

“The problem is that users are trying to get the camera to work best for them, and we know we can do better. What if the camera could understand what you want to capture and adjust automatically?” McCormack emphasized.

On iPad and Mac, Center Stage uses the ultra-wide camera and machine learning algorithms to align your face during video calls.

With the iPhone 17, this technology is improved when the camera can automatically rotate, zoom, and widen the angle when there are more people in the frame. These features are integrated into the native camera application, no need to install an external app.

First appearance experience

In an interview, Apple representatives emphasized that the company spent many years developing new technology. McCormack said many techniques are only now possible thanks to the development of processing power and industrial design.

Megan Nash, iPhone Product Manager, shares that the selfie camera and sensors are designed with user experience in mind, such as wide-angle support for group shots.

“On the new camera, we nearly doubled the sensor size to improve sharpness, the results include a larger field of view, allowing for capturing multiple people or wide backgrounds, in addition to improved image quality,” said Nash.

Smartphone photos typically have a 4:3 aspect ratio. So Apple used a square sensor to create an “industry-first” experience, allowing you to hold the iPhone vertically while still taking selfies and shooting videos horizontally.

Square sensor on iPhone 17's selfie camera. Photo: Macworld .

To ensure sharpness, Apple also improved the signal acquisition, memory bandwidth and heat dissipation. This helps the device simultaneously cut corners, stabilize vibrations and continuously recognize faces, even when recording video.

“Years ago, we thought that the selfie camera would need high speed (Apple Camera Interface). So the A19 and A19 Pro chips use ACI to transfer data efficiently between the sensor and the chip.

This is especially important with features like Dual Capture, which uses the front and rear cameras at the same time,” Nash shares.

Apple representatives said that selfie photos are also better. For example, people's eyes will always look in the right direction when holding the iPhone vertically, which is often difficult to do in landscape mode.

Likewise, video recording is also better thanks to Action Mode, which stabilizes footage and reduces shaking.

“We aim to make the iPhone camera invisible… You don’t even need to turn on Action Mode, just walk, bike, or run and rest assured that the video will still be good quality,” McCormack shared.

The iPhone Air "problem"

According to Apple representatives, the anti-shake feature is also very important with Dual Capture mode. Thanks to its own algorithm, the frames from both cameras are kept stable, especially with the front camera when the user's face remains in the center.

Overall, Apple's improvements offer a decidedly professional experience, even if you're not a videographer.

“If there are two people, the iPhone will automatically zoom to align the frame. With three or more people, the device will automatically rotate the photo to landscape while you still hold the camera vertically,” said McCormack.

Compared to modes like Google Real Tone, Samsung Auto Framing or Zeiss lens on Vivo phones, Apple's smart features are built-in by default and fully automatic.

iPhone 17 model. Photo: The Verge .

Despite the larger sensor, Apple chose 18 MP resolution for the front camera because this is the balance between image quality, cropping ability, hardware and software optimization.

On the iPhone Air, integrating a square sensor presents a big challenge when the device has an ultra-thin appearance. According to Apple representatives, this is a problem combining hardware, software and heat dissipation.

“That's just part of the process of making the iPhone. We don't compromise on image quality. The device still needs to maintain high quality...

“The camera team, industrial designers and thermal engineers all worked together to perfect every detail. It was hard to imagine, but we did it,” McCormack emphasized.

The selfie camera is proof that Apple is trying to optimize the software and improve the processor chip to bring a better experience. With this system, Apple wants to create a professional photography experience for the front camera, instead of just the rear camera system like the previous generations.

Source: https://znews.vn/bi-mat-cua-iphone-17-post1594213.html