iPhone 17 Pro Max may feature 8X optical zoom and vapour cooling, leak suggests

Although unconfirmed until Apple’s official launch, these rumors have sparked excitement among fans and analysts, with anticipation building as the iPhone 17 event approaches and expectations rise for the new series to meet the hype

As anticipation builds ahead of Apple’s expected iPhone 17 launch which is just a few hours away, fresh leaks suggest significant upgrades could be coming to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models—particularly in camera performance and thermal management.

Major camera improvements expected

The most notable rumour points to an upgraded telephoto lens with up to 8X optical zoom, a step up from the current 5X zoom found in the iPhone 16 Pro lineup. If accurate, this enhancement would represent a considerable leap in Apple’s mobile photography capabilities, potentially putting it on par with or ahead of rival flagship devices.

The information reportedly stems from internal documentation linked to a South Korean telecom provider. Though the original source post was later removed from social media, it was cited by multiple tech publications, adding some weight to the speculation. Industry insiders believe Apple is prioritizing zoom capabilities in response to growing competition in the high-end smartphone market.

Next-gen cooling technology in the works

In addition to the camera upgrades, the iPhone 17 Pro models are also rumoured to debut a new vapour chamber cooling system. This type of system uses a vacuum-sealed chamber containing liquid that evaporates to draw heat away from critical components such as the CPU and GPU, potentially offering more efficient thermal regulation during heavy usage, such as gaming or 4K video recording.

If implemented, this would mark Apple’s second consecutive year of improving thermal management. The iPhone 16 Pro series introduced a graphene-based heat dissipation solution aimed at reducing device overheating.

While these features remain unconfirmed until Apple’s official announcement, the rumours have generated excitement among fans and analysts alike. With the launch event just hours away, all eyes are on Apple to see whether the iPhone 17 series lives up to the hype.