3 Minutes
Square sensor and Center Stage
Apple has unveiled an entirely new front-camera sensor across the iPhone 17 lineup that abandons the traditional 4:3 frame in favor of a square capture area. This design enables the device to keep the user centered during video calls, live streams and selfies, with Center Stage and on-device AI automatically adjusting composition to maintain focus on the subject.
Features and technical specifications
The front sensor can now produce images up to 18 MP — a notable upgrade over the iPhone 16. The new module is also fitted into iPhone Air models. The iPhone 17 family supports advanced automatic framing and AI-driven enhancements for both video calls and live broadcasts.
Additional capabilities in iPhone 17 Pro
The iPhone 17 Pro adds the ability to record from the main and front cameras simultaneously (dual recording), a feature particularly valuable for bloggers, vloggers and social media creators who want synchronized perspectives.
Comparison with iPhone 16
Compared with the iPhone 16, the new square sensor and 18 MP resolution offer improved framing, greater detail and a more convenient experience for video calls. The iPhone 16 relied on the conventional 4:3 aspect ratio, which often required manual rotation or adjustment for selfies and streaming.
Benefits, use cases and market impact
Advantages include automatic framing, higher-quality selfies (18 MP), easier live streaming and professional-grade recording on the iPhone 17 Pro. Typical use cases span video calls, live streams, vlogging, social-media photography and corporate video conferences. From a market perspective, this strengthens Apple’s position among devices aimed at content creators and pushes competitors to implement more sophisticated front-camera technologies.
Conclusions
The iPhone 17 series’ square selfie sensor, combined with Center Stage and AI-driven automation, promises more convenient and more polished-looking video content. It represents a meaningful step forward for everyday users and creators seeking better video-call and streaming quality.
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