Looking beyond your iPhone for better photos? These digital cameras are more powerful options for photographers ready to step up their gear.

From AI-powered photo editing features to computational capabilities, here are 5 smartphones that offer advanced AI camera features.

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max offer identical camera specs, with all three rear-facing cameras having 48MP sensors. Apple says that the optical zoom of the telephoto lens extends to 8x, though this is achieved by taking a 24MP crop, so it would be more accurate to say that it has 4x optical zoom with the option for a cropped 8x image.

The Apple iPhone 17e arrived as a new mid-tier option designed to bring modern iPhone features to a wider audience. Launched on March 2, 2026, the device blends strong performance, a durable design, and upgraded camera capabilities at a starting price of $599.

If having the latest technology is your top priority and you are willing to pay more, waiting for the iPhone 18 Pro Max remains a reasonable option. But based on the leaks so far, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is well worth considering.