Concept image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple’s 2025 iPhone 17 Pro could feature 8K video recording capabilities. Current iPhones max out at 4K 120fps recording.
8K recording has been a standard feature on flagship Android phones for years, but Apple steered clear of this trend. This may finally change with the iPhone 17.
8K video may finally come to iPhones this year
iPhones stand out for their video recording quality and can shoot 4K footage in Dolby Vision. With the iPhone 16 Pro last year, Apple further flexed its muscle and added the ability to record 4K 120fps slow-mo videos.
This year, Chinese leaker Fixed Focus Digital claims that Apple will add 8K recording support to the iPhone 17 series. This should lead to a noticeable jump in video quality.
The leaker has a fairly accurate track record with Apple leaks. Plus, this rumor goes well with another report from late February, which claimed that the iPhone 17 Pro will feature upgraded video recording capabilities. Apple reportedly wants video creators and bloggers to replace their dedicated cameras with iPhones.
A big jump in video quality on the cards
While you might think that a jump from 4K to 8K doubles the video resolution, that’s not the case. It leads to a four times increase in pixels, resulting in sharper and more detailed videos. Each frame in an 8K video has a resolution of about 33.2 MP.
This also explains why Apple has yet to introduce 8K video recording on the iPhone. A 12MP sensor does not have enough pixels to record 8K videos.
Rumors suggest the iPhone 17 Pro will switch to a 48MP 5x telephoto shooter, ditching the current 12MP sensor. This should pave the way for Apple to add 8K video recording support on the iPhone 17 Pro from all lenses.
It’s unclear whether the regular iPhone 17 lineup will also gain support for 8K video recording. For this, Apple must upgrade its 12MP ultra-wide shooter to a 48MP sensor this year.
