Η ΓΝΩΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΣΤΟ ΣΧΟΛΕΙΟ ΚΑΙ ΠΕΡΑ ΑΠΟ ΑΥΤΟ
Big Freedom Tiny Homes recently completed a new model that showcases how smart space-saving design can maximize limited available floorspace. Measuring a relatively compact length of 30 ft (9.14 m), the tiny house provides a home on wheels suitable for a small family.
Category: Tiny Houses, Outdoors
Tags: Building and Construction, Tiny Footprint, Micro-House, House, Home
Guangzhou, China-based aerial vehicle outfit eHang is throwing down the gauntlet in the air taxi space with the unveiling of its autonomous VT35 eVTOL. This long-range lift- and cruise-capable aircraft was shown off taking to the skies ahead of an official launch event today in Hefei, China, where the company has established a new R&D, testing, and manufacturing hub. You can see it in action below.
Tags: eVTOL, Air Taxis, Flying taxi, Ehang
The Robotin R2 is billed as the world’s first fully autonomous carpet-cleaning robot, combining deep vacuuming, automated washing and intelligent drying in one compact, low-maintenance modular system. And right now, you can get the unit for just US$799 – nearly half its expected retail price.
Category: Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: Kickstarter, Smart Home, Cleaning, Consumer Electronics, Artificial Intelligence, Vacuum cleaner
What naked mole-rats lack in the looks department they make up for it in longevity, living healthily for nearly four decades. Now scientists have uncovered just how they repair their DNA – and it has the potential to be harnessed for humans to do the same.
Category: Aging Well, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind
Tags: molecular biology, DNA, Cells, anti-aging, Age-Related, Aging, Animal science
When breathing becomes a daily battle, even the simplest acts can feel exhausting. Now, a new study has found the key to easing chronic breathlessness caused by lung disease: singing.
Category: Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind
Tags: Lung disease, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Inflammation, Singing, Monash University
One of the simplest truck camper designs we've seen, the Grumpy Bear Arctos Sport arrives looking like a toadstool chopped in half, or a teardrop trailer body on a pedestal. However you look at it, that simple form allows the camper to fit neatly in the pickup bed, without an over-cab alcove hanging off, giving buyers a transformable interior meant for sleeping, eating and relaxing through the evenings. It even has a standing height interior and a 4-season construction meant to stand up to Old Man Winter.
Category: Pickup Campers, Adventure Vehicles, Outdoors
Tags: RV, Pickup, Truck, Camping, Outdoors and Camping
Following the launch of a compact low-speed ambulance in July, California's GEM has unveiled an electric utility truck that's designed to haul gear through the neighborhood before heading to wilder work sites.
Category: Automotive, Transport
Tags: Electric Vehicles, Truck, utv, Compact, Off-road
A new class of weight-loss drug has shown it can significantly boost weight loss when paired with GLP-1 therapy – without adding side effects – in a mid-stage clinical trial, pointing to a powerful new combination approach to tackling obesity.
Category: Obesity, Illnesses and conditions, Body and Mind
Tags: Obesity, Weight Loss, GLP-1 receptor agonists, clinical trials
The iPhone 17 Pro Max has Apple's newest technology, but is it worth upgrading from your current iPhone Pro?
Photo: Dale Baskin
Each year, Apple's iPhone launch event devotes considerable time to its newest flagship, the iPhone Pro, which always features the company's most advanced cameras. For photography and video enthusiasts who want Apple's latest imaging technology, the iPhone Pro is the clear choice.
And every year, Apple tries to convince us that its cameras are better than ever, and that this is the year to upgrade to make your photos more magical than ever before.
But is it worth it? Most people upgrade their smartphones only every few years, and it can be hard to know when an upgrade will truly make a difference to your photos. We're here to help sort the noise from the facts. In this photography-focused comparison, we'll examine every iPhone Pro model from the last five years – back to 2020's iPhone 12 Pro – to help you decide if an upgrade makes sense.
Before we dive into older models, let's review what's new with the iPhone 17 Pro.
Or, you can jump directly to a comparison with your current model:
Buy now:
Buy at Apple The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro MaxThe iPhone 17 Pro's headline feature is that, for the first time, all three of the iPhone cameras use 48MP "Fusion" imaging sensors.
Image: Apple
Like its predecessors, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max feature a triple-camera system with main, ultrawide, and telephoto modules. The headline feature is that, for the first time, all three camera modules use 48MP imaging sensors.
Apple brands these as "Fusion" sensors, but they are essentially a Quad Bayer design. This design allows the smartphone to computationally combine data from a four-pixel group (pixel binning) with individual pixel data to create a more detailed image. This technology also enables virtual lenses like the 2x and 8x "zoom," which use cropped regions of one of the camera's sensors. Apple calls these virtual lenses "optical quality," but they're essentially a digital zoom enhanced with machine learning-based upsampling.
The only truly new camera on the iPhone 17 Pro is the telephoto, which was upgraded to a larger 48MP sensor. It's 56% larger than the 12MP telephoto sensor in the iPhone 16 Pro, and even larger compared to earlier models, and can deliver better photo quality, particularly in low light.
The iPhone 17 Pro is the first iPhone to capture video using Apple's ProRes RAW, a Raw video format used by professional and advanced videographers.
Image: Apple
The iPhone 17 Pro also adds two advanced video features: ProRes RAW recording for greater editing flexibility, and Genlock, a professional feature for frame-perfect multi-camera synchronization via a hardware accessory.
Finally, the iPhone 17 Pro introduces a new 18MP front camera with a square multi-aspect sensor, replacing the 4:3 sensors on all previous models. Dubbed the Center Stage camera, it allows you to capture horizontal or vertical video without reorienting the phone and provides improved video stabilization.
To learn about these features in more detail, see our article iPhone 17 Pro cameras: What's new, what's unchanged.
Buy boxes
The big pictureBefore diving into individual comparisons, let's look at how the iPhone Pro's camera system has evolved. In the table below, green boxes represent significant upgrades from previous models. At a high level, this is what to look for:
Editor's note: All focal lengths in this article are full-frame equivalents.
Main camera* Ultrawide camera* Telephoto camera* Video features iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max 24mm F1.7813mm F2.2
48MP Type 1/2.55
(23.5mm²)
100mm F2.8
48MP Type 1/2.55
(23.5mm²)
24mm F1.78
48MP Type 1/1.28
(71.5mm²)
13mm F2.2
48MP Type 1/2.55
(23.5mm²)
120mm F2.8
12MP Type 1/3.2
(15.3mm²)
24mm F1.78
48MP Type 1/1.28
(71.5mm²)
13mm F2.2
12MP Type 1/2.55
(23.5mm²)
77mm F2.8
12MP Type 1/3.5 (12mm²)
120mm F2.8
12MP Type 1/3.2 (15.3mm²)
iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max24mm F1.78
48MP Type 1/1.28
(71.5mm²)
13mm F2.2
12MP Type 1/2.55
(23.5mm²)
77mm F2.8
12MP Type 1/3.5
(12mm²)
26mm F1.5
12MP Type 1/1.65-type
(44mm²)
13mm F1.8
12MP Type 1/3.4-type
(12.2mm²)
77mm F2.8
12MP Type 1/3.4
(12.2mm²)
26mm F1.6
12MP Type 1/2.55
(23.9mm²)
13mm F2.4
12MP Type 1/3.4
(12.2mm²)
52mm F2.0
12MP Type 1/3.4
(12.2mm²)
26mm F1.6
12MP Type 1/1.9
(35.2mm²)
65mm F2.2
12MP Type 1/3.4
(12.2mm²)
*All focal lengths are full-frame equivalents
Historically, the main camera received notable upgrades on the iPhone 13 Pro and 14 Pro, but has been largely unchanged since the 48MP sensor was introduced on the 14 Pro.
The ultrawide camera was upgraded on the 13 Pro and 14 Pro, and again on the iPhone 16 Pro, which also gained a 48MP sensor.
The telephoto camera has seen more variability, with focal lengths between 52mm (2x zoom) to 120mm (5x zoom), with the most significant upgrade being the iPhone 17 Pro, which gained a 48MP sensor that's substantially larger than in previous models.
Apple has continued to add video features, but all models in the table can capture photos using Apple's ProRaw mode.
If you have an iPhone 16 Pro or Pro MaxThe iPhone 16 Pro was the first iPhone Pro to add a 48MP ultrawide camera, complementing the 48MP main camera.
Image: Apple
For current iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max owners, the year-over-year upgrade is difficult to recommend unless you are a heavy telephoto user or require the advanced video features exclusive to the iPhone 17 Pro.
iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max iPhone 16 Pro / Pro Max Main camera* 24mm F1.78 24mm F1.78 Main sensor 48MP Type 1/1.28*All focal lengths are full-frame equivalents
**Requires external storage for 4K/60p or higher
The iPhone 16 Pro has the same main and ultrawide cameras as the 17 Pro. While Apple claims an improved image processing pipeline, which is almost certainly true, it's unlikely to be noticeable in day-to-day use.
The major camera upgrade is the telephoto module. The iPhone 17 Pro gets a 48MP sensor that's over 50% larger than the one in the 16 Pro, giving it significantly more light-gathering capability. The telephoto focal length has also changed, decreasing from 120mm (5x zoom) on the 16 Pro to 100mm (4x zoom) on the 17 Pro.
That may sound like a downgrade, but a common complaint on the iPhone 16 Pro was the large gap between its main and telephoto cameras. This forced mid-range zoom shots to rely heavily on computationally-enhanced crops from the main sensor. The 17 Pro's 4x telephoto narrows that gap, allowing the phone to switch to the dedicated telephoto lens, and its full sensor area, sooner.
"A common complaint on the iPhone 16 Pro was the large gap between its main and telephoto cameras."Additionally, the iPhone 16 Pro and all older models used Apple's previous 4:3 front-facing selfie camera. The new Center Stage camera could be a reason to upgrade if you take many selfies or shoot video on the move.
The only new video features are ProRes RAW and Genlock, both aimed at advanced videographers. Unless you have a specific need for them, these features alone don't justify an upgrade.
If you have an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro MaxThe iPhone 15 Pro series bifurcated the telephoto camera, with the smaller iPhone 15 Pro featuring a 3x telephoto lens while the iPhone 15 Pro Max featured a 5x lens and a slightly larger sensor.
Image: Apple
For iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max users, there are some additional considerations. The main camera on the 15 Pro series uses the same lens and sensor as the iPhone 17, effectively delivering the same image quality. However, the 16 Pro introduced a 'second-generation' version of this sensor with 2x faster readout, enabling "zero shutter lag" even when shooting Raw photos. If you've been bothered by this lag on your 15 Pro, it could be a reason to upgrade.
iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max Main camera* 24mm F1.78 24mm F1.78 Main sensor 48MP Type 1/1.28*All focal lengths are full-frame equivalents
**Requires external storage for 4K/60p or higher
The telephoto cameras are another story. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max use different modules, with 77mm (3x) and 120mm (5x) lenses, respectively. This means upgrading to the 17 Pro's 100mm (4x) telephoto could result in either more or less reach than you're used to. In either case, the upgrade will get you the 17 Pro's new 48MP sensor, which is over 50% larger than the 15 Pro Max's and almost double the size of the 15 Pro's.
Image stabilization is another factor to consider, particularly for low-light situations requiring slower shutter speeds. The iPhone 15 Pro Max's telephoto module uses sensor-shift image stabilization. In contrast, the smaller iPhone 15 Pro's telephoto uses Apple's older, less effective optical image stabilization system. Sensor-shift stabilization didn't come to the smaller iPhone Pro's telephoto module until the iPhone 16 series. Therefore, iPhone 15 Pro users should experience improved telephoto stabilization after upgrading.
The iPhone 15 Pro and earlier models don't include Apple's Camera Control button (seen on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, above). It allows you to launch the camera from anywhere, change key settings with a slide of the finger, and works as a shutter button.
Photo: Dale Baskin
Ultrawide and macro photographers may be drawn to the iPhone 17 Pro's 48MP ultrawide camera. Like Apple's other 48MP sensors, it's a Quad Bayer design, so the resolution gain isn't as large as the numbers suggest. Still, it captures more detail and provides more latitude for cropping macro shots. The sensor size remains unchanged, however, so don't expect low-light improvements.
The 17 Pro includes other features not on the 15 Pro, like the Camera Control button and an updated Photographic Styles system that lets you change a look after the photo is taken. Video upgrades include 4K/120p capture (up from 4K/60p) for more dramatic slow-motion, along with ProRes RAW and Genlock support.
If you have an iPhone 14 Pro or Pro MaxThe iPhone 14 Pro was the first iPhone Pro to feature a 48MP sensor on the main camera.
Image: Apple
The camera modules in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max are broadly similar to those in the 15 Pro, except for the 15 Pro Max's 5x telephoto. As a result, much of the same upgrade logic applies.
iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max Main camera* 24mm F1.78 24mm F1.78 Main sensor 48MP Type 1/1.28*All focal lengths are full-frame equivalents
**Requires external storage for 4K/60p or higher
The iPhone 14 Pro was the first model with the higher resolution 48MP main camera sensor still used today, though 17 Pro will benefit from the faster readout speed that first arrived on the iPhone 16 Pro. Additionally, the 14 Pro defaults to 12MP photos binned from its 48MP sensor, compared to the 24MP default on more recent models. (Full 48MP resolution is still available via a settings change, however.)
Upgrading to the 17 Pro will get you the newer 48MP sensors on the ultrawide and telephoto modules, including the 50% larger telephoto sensor. Neither iPhone 14 Pro model includes sensor-shift image stabilization on the telephoto camera, relying instead on the older, less effective optical image stabilization system. Upgrading to the 17 Pro will provide superior sensor-shift stabilization on the telephoto camera, where it's needed most, and which is especially helpful in low light.
"Upgrading to the 17 Pro will get you the newer 48MP sensors on the ultrawide and telephoto modules, including the 50% larger telephoto sensor."Newer iPhones like the 17 Pro also feature lens coatings not found on the 14 Pro, which can reduce lens flare when shooting into bright light. (Though models with updated coatings still have the green flare balls that have almost become a calling card of iPhone photos.) Newer models can also capture 3D spatial images, a feature the iPhone 14 Pro lacks.
The iPhone 14 Pro and older models don't include the almost universal USB-C plug (seen on the iPhone Pro Max, above), relying instead on Apple's older Lightning connector.
Photo: Dale Baskin
Video capabilities may be the most compelling reason to upgrade. The iPhone 14 Pro captures ProRes video, but not the ProRes Log format desired by videographers for its color grading flexibility. Furthermore, its ProRes recording is limited to 4K/30p or 1080/60p, restricting 4K slow-motion options.
The 14 Pro was also the last model with a Lightning connector. Newer models use the more universal USB-C, which offers data transfer speeds up to 10Gbit per second – 20 times faster than the Lightning port's USB 2.0 speeds.
If you primarily use the main camera, upgrading to the 17 Pro is a toss-up, as it's mostly unchanged from the 14 Pro. However, for frequent users of the ultrawide and telephoto cameras, or for videographers who want Log video, the upgrade becomes a compelling, no-brainer decision.
If you have an iPhone 13 Pro or Pro MaxThe iPhone 13 Pro was the last iPhone Pro with 12MP imaging sensors on all three camera modules.
Image: Apple
With older models, the differences in technology become more stark, and for iPhone 13 Pro or Pro Max owners, upgrading to the 17 Pro will improve the camera experience in nearly every way.
iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max iPhone 13 Pro / Pro Max Main camera* 24mm F1.78 26mm F1.5 Main sensor 48MP Type 1/1.28*All focal lengths are full-frame equivalents
**Requires external storage for 4K/60p or higher
The iPhone 13 Pro was the last to use a smaller, 12MP main camera sensor before Apple's switch to the 48MP sensor that became standard, and the 17 Pro's sensor is 63% larger. The 13 Pro has a faster F1.5 aperture versus the F1.78 lens on newer models. However, when factoring in both sensor size and aperture, the 13 Pro has about a fifth of a stop less light-gathering ability than the 17 Pro. The 13 Pro also lacks the benefits of the 48MP sensor, which uses pixel binning for extra detail and enables the '2x' zoom option found on newer models.
The situation is similar for the ultrawide camera. Its 12MP sensor is roughly half the size of the 17 Pro's. While its F1.8 aperture is faster than the 17 Pro's F2.2, the 13 Pro's ultrawide is still about a third of a stop behind in total light gathering and lacks the benefits of the 48MP sensor.
"The iPhone 13 Pro was the last to use a smaller, 12MP main camera sensor before Apple's switch to the 48MP sensor."The telephoto camera is where you'll see the most dramatic difference. The iPhone 17 Pro's larger, higher-resolution sensor captures almost a full stop more light than the 13 Pro, and allows for more zooming. The 17 Pro also uses more effective sensor-shift stabilization on its telephoto module, compared to the older optical stabilization on the 13 Pro models.
As with the 14 Pro, video features could be a deciding factor, especially if you want ProRes Log for color grading latitude. With all three of the 13 Pro's cameras still at 12MP, lower light-gathering capacity, and a shorter video feature list, this is an easy upgrade to recommend.
If you have an iPhone 12 Pro or Pro MaxThe iPhone 12 Pro's triple-camera array.
Image: Apple
Five years feels like an eternity in technology, and the cameras on the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max are showing their age.
iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max Main camera* 24mm F1.78 26mm F1.6 Main sensor 48MP Type 1/1.28*All focal lengths are full-frame equivalents
**Requires external storage for 4K/60p or higher
The iPhone 12 Pro's main camera sensor is even smaller than the 13 Pro's; in fact, the 17 Pro's main sensor is 200% larger. Despite a slightly faster aperture on the 12 Pro, the iPhone 17 Pro's main camera captures about 1.25 stops – roughly 2.5 time – more light than the iPhone 12 Pro. That's a dramatic difference.
Similarly, the ultrawide sensor on the iPhone 17 Pro is almost twice as large as the 12 Pro's, which also has a slower aperture. The net result is that the 17 Pro's ultrawide camera captures nearly 1.25 stops more light than the 12 Pro's. Again, a dramatic difference.
"The iPhone 12 Pro's main camera sensor is even smaller than the 13 Pro's; in fact, the 17 Pro's main sensor is 200% larger."The situation is more complexe for the telephoto modules. Although the 12 Pro models have smaller telephoto sensors, their much faster apertures allow them to keep pace with the iPhone 17 Pro's newer module in terms of exposure. The catch is their focal length. At 2x (52mm) on the 12 Pro and 2.5x (65mm) on the Pro Max, they are much shorter than the 17 Pro's 4x (100mm) telephoto, making them less useful for distant subjects.
Also, because the 17 Pro's main sensor is so much larger, its '2x zoom' (which uses a cropped area of the sensor) can capture a full stop more light than the 12 Pro's telephoto camera, and its '2.5x zoom' captures a half stop more than the 12 Pro Max's. In effect, the iPhone 17 Pro's main camera can outperform the 12 Pro's dedicated telephoto cameras while also offering a superior 4x optical zoom.
The iPhone 12 Pro's doesn't include camera features like Apple's newer Photographic Styles, which let you change styles on a photo after it's taken, or most of the video features available on the iPhone 17 Pro.
Image: Apple
Image stabilization is another key difference. The iPhone 12 Pro Max was the first to introduce sensor-shift stabilization on its main camera, but the smaller 12 Pro used older, less effective optical stabilization. Upgrading from the smaller 12 Pro will provide a noticeable improvement, as all Pro models since the 13 series have featured sensor-shift on their main cameras.
The 12 Pro models also show their age in video. While they capture Dolby Vision HDR and 4K/60p, they lack all the other video features Apple has introduced in the last five years.
If improving photo quality is your goal, this upgrade makes absolute sense. With 12MP sensors across the board, lower light sensitivity, and telephoto lenses that the 17 Pro's main camera can effectively replace, you will see an across-the-board improvement in image quality.
ConclusionApple's slick presentations make it easy to feel like you need the newest iPhone cameras, and I give Apple credit for being very good at that. The reality, however, is that most annual updates are incremental. Major improvements are the exception, not the rule.
Also, when considering an upgrade, keep in mind that it may not be necessary to buy Apple's newest iPhone Pro, depending on the features you need or want. If an older model meets your requirements, you might save a chunk of change by buying a recent used phone, or even a refurbished phone from Apple, that's still newer than your current phone and gives you the features you want.
A woman and her dog frolic in the autumn leaves in Almirante González Fernández Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Canon PowerShot G7 | F4.8 | 1/200 sec. | ISO 400
Photo: Dale Baskin
Our October Editors' photo challenge, "Fall Follies," is now open for submissions.
Autumn has arrived in the northern hemisphere! The days are getting shorter, the air a little cooler, and the world around us is changing fast. For our October photo challenge, we’re celebrating everything that makes fall special, including vibrant leaves, fall harvests, annual traditions and seasonal celebrations. Show us what "Fall Follies" looks like through your lens.
Photos can be submitted between Sunday, October 12, and Saturday, October 18 (GMT). The challenge is open to photos captured at any time.
Important: Images MUST include a title and a caption of at least 25 words to be eligible. We need to be able to share the story behind your photo. We will consider both photos and captions when selecting our winners, so make sure to tell us that story!
Visit the challenge page to enter your photos for a chance to be featured on the DPReview homepage later this month.
Living up to its name, University of Washington spin-off company ZAP Energy's Century system is developing fusion power technology by blasting plasma with super-lightning-like pulses 12 times per minute, without relying on superconducting magnets or laser beams.
Category: Energy, Technology
Tags: Nuclear Fusion, Lightning
A first-of-its-kind study has found that recognizing – and actually using – personal strengths is linked with better wellbeing and fewer mental-health symptoms in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It also mapped which “ADHD strengths” are more commonly self-endorsed, adding nuance to a field that’s often framed around deficits.
Category: ADHD & Autism, Brain Health, Body and Mind
Tags: University of Bath, ADHD, Developmental conditions, Age-Related, mental health, Well-being, Chronic illness
You don’t become one of the world’s top motorcycle component manufacturers for nothing. For the past five years, Brembo has been working to improve the environmental impact of its manufacturing processes – and now, it's claiming a breakthrough.
Category: Motorcycles, Transport
Tags: Motorcycle, Braking, Recycled, Aluminum, Environmentally-friendly, Green+Technology
A large study has found that calcium supplements, long recommended for bone health, particularly in older women, don’t increase dementia risk, offering reassurance for the millions who take them to protect against osteoporosis.
Category: Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind
Tags: Vitamins and minerals, Dementia, Dietary supplements, Alzheimer's disease, Edith Cowan University, Curtin University, University of Western Australia
The Japan Mobility Show – which brings together major automakers to show off their upcoming vehicles in Tokyo each year – is still a couple of weeks away. Thankfully, we don't have to wait until then to see what Yamaha's got cooking, because it's totally fire.
Category: Motorcycles, Transport
Tags: Yamaha, Concept Motorcycles, Three-Wheeler, Electric Motorcycles
Friendships, community ties and family bonds may apply the brakes to natural cell aging, providing a simple way to invest in health in older age. In a massive new study, scientists have found that social connections are tied to slower biological aging and less chronic inflammation.
Category: Aging Well, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind
Tags: Cornell University, anti-aging, Biological age, Age-Related, Chronic illness, Inflammation, Epigenetics
Once confined to Latin America, Chagas disease – a potentially deadly parasitic infection that is spread in a gross way – is now endemic in the United States, threatening both humans and their pets in what experts are calling a silent public health crisis.
Category: Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and Mind
Tags: Pets, Insect, Vector-borne disease, Veterinary Medicine, Public health
Alice doesn't live here anymore: Camera Intelligence's second-gen camera will be called Caira.
Image: Camera Intelligence
Camera Intelligence, the UK startup previously responsible for the Alice camera, has announced its second-generation product, a camera and app utilizing Google's 'Nano Banana' image generation model.
Like the original model, Caira is a Micro Four Thirds camera that connects to an smartphone over Wi-Fi and is controlled from an app on the phone. The new model uses the "MagSafe" magnetic connector on the back of recent iPhones to provide a physical attachment to the phone. Unlike the original model, there will be no version for Android.
The move to magnetic connection to secure the camera to the phone allows the new version to be 25% lighter, and thinner than the original.
Nano Banana uses natural language input to make edits to the image, letting you amend and add to your image in the camera's app. This generative model comes in addition to the camera's AI-based image processing, which was one of the defining features of the original camera.
AI AFThe company's CEO, Vishal Kumar says the camera uses "a new type of autofocus technique we have developed in house entirely from scratch." It doen't "use contrast-based or phase-detect autofocus," he says: "We have built a deep neural network (AI) algorithm that can determine if the subject is in or out of focus. If the subject is out of focus, the AI algorithm then predict how far it is out of focus in terms of distance, and sends a signal to the lens to move precisely into focus."
The Caira camera will be offered via a Kickstarter campaign, starting at the end of October. Kumar says the company has "secured a partnership with a reputable contract manufacturer who has a proven track record in producing cameras for us," and has already built around 50 protoype cameras, ahead of the Kickstarter program.
Camera Intelligence's CEO, Vishal Kumar with the iPhone-attached Caira camera.
Image: Camera Intelligence
He says the company has placed preliminary orders for key components and is using Kickstarter to judge how many cameras it ultimately needs to make. "During the first couple of weeks of the Kickstarter campaign, we will gain a better understanding of demand, but we will likely green-light production before the Kickstarter ends," he says.
"Our production timeline already includes a buffer for unforeseen adjustments. We are aiming for Q1 2026 delivery for the Kickstarter units, possibly earlier for some countries."
He says the company is "partnering with a professional, experienced fulfilment company to manage all shipping," having found this challenging with its original product.
Still waiting for AliceWe spoke Kumar about concerns expressed on the DPReview forums that not all backers of the original product have received their cameras. "When we launched our Indiegogo campaign in 2021, we offered worldwide shipping without fully anticipating the distinct logistical and compliance hurdles in each region. Each region essentially has a different customs duties process and also a consumer electronics testing process, especially for Wi-Fi-enabled electronic devices with built-in lithium-powered batteries."
It subsequently restricted sales to Europe, USA and Japan, where it had cleared these hurdles, and cameras have been shipping in these regions. The company faced a different issue in the UK, where it found itself embroiled in a trademark dispute over the name Alice.
Original customers in other counties will receive their cameras, Kumar says: "We are actively working through the final logistical steps to deliver these cameras without incurring unforeseen costs or legal complications that could affect our operations. Shipping the entire backlog of version 1 cameras is our highest priority, and we have ~20% left to fulfill."
Having learned from these experiences, the Caira will initially only be available in UK, EU and USA. Other regions will be announced "in dur course" he says.
There are no current plans to develop an Android version of Caira, Kumar says, but there will be an online form for users to express interest in creating another batch of the first-gen camera.
Camera Intelligence Unveils Caira - The World's First Interchangeable Lens Mirrorless Camera with Google's “Nano Banana” OnboardLondon and New York – October 7th, 2025 – Camera Intelligence today announced Caira, a new AI-native Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera that attaches to iPhones via a MagSafe connector. Caira is the world's first interchangeable lens mirrorless camera to feature Google's next-generation generative AI model, 'Nano Banana' , integrated directly into its product. This powerful fusion of professional optics and advanced on-camera intelligence empowers creators to do advanced image editing in real-time, drastically streamlining content creation workflows.
With the integration of Google’s 'Nana Banana' model, Caira ushers in a new era of on-camera "generative editing, " moving beyond simple capture to offer in-the-moment creation and editing, for spectacular real-time adjustments that were previously only possible through complex post-production software and workflows on laptops.
Using simple natural language prompts users can instantly change the style or colour grade of a scene, transform a bright daytime scene into a dramatic nightscape, or even make hyper-specific additions, like changing the colour of a subject's clothing or hair, or placing jewelry on a person's body, all directly within the Caira app after the photo has been taken.
With Caira, we are not just launching a new camera; we are introducing a new, intelligent creative partner, " said Vishal Kumar, CEO of Camera Intelligence. "Creators need more than just great image quality - they need speed, flexibility, and tools that match the pace of their imagination. By integrating Nano Banana directly into Caira, we are collapsing traditional content creation workflows; we aim to fundamentally shift how creators capture, edit, and share our world. ”
Understanding the profound implications of this technology, Camera Intelligence is developing Caira with an ethics-first approach. The company is actively collaborating with a diverse group of professional photographers to establish responsible use cases. Furthermore, Camera Intelligence is designing ethical system prompts and safeguards within the AI model to prevent misuse. The technology will always adhere to Google’s Generative AI Prohibited Use Policy, and it will not permit alterations to a person's skin tone, ethnicity, or core facial features, ensuring the tool is used to augment creative expression, not to unethically manipulate personal identity.
“We’ve put a lot of thought into this technology before offering it to our customers. Despite the skepticism surrounding generative AI, we believe photographers shouldn't fear it. Thoughtful integration of this has the potential to be truly helpful. We chose Google’s Nano Banana because it's the best model we've seen for maintaining consistent character details and seamlessly blending new edits whilst preserving the original image's optical quality. Its one-shot editing capability is also exceptional, frequently delivering perfect results in a single attempt without unwanted hallucinations. It truly feels like magic. ”
Caira is designed for creators and businesses who demand both cutting-edge quality and unparalleled creative freedom. By leveraging on-camera AI, Caira eliminates the need for laptop-based post-processing for many creative tasks, offering a seamless 'shoot-and-share' workflow for high-quality content creation.
AvailabilityCaira Camera will launch for pre-order exclusively on Kickstarter, with the campaign scheduled to go live on October 30th, 2025. Interested customers can sign up for launch notifications on the company's website - www.cameraintelligence.com.
I know it's only a concept, but there are a lot of clever ideas crammed into the new Dacia Hipster electric vehicle (EV) that have me wishing I could run out and buy one right away. There's a lot more to this Kei car-inspired mockup than components built to a cost.
Category: Automotive, Transport
By breaking the rules of atomic order, scientists have created MXenes unlike any seen before. Nine metals now share a single atom-thin sheet, their once-neat layers dissolved into a patchwork of possibility. The result could redefine how we design materials for the harshest places on Earth and beyond.
Tags: new material
