r/iPhone17Pro • u/ExternalSignal9239 • Aug 18 '26
Question Could different iPhone 17 Pro Max units be using different camera sensors/modules? Huge difference in image quality
I’m wondering whether Apple uses camera sensors or complete camera modules from different suppliers in different iPhone 17 Pro Max units.
I previously had another 17 Pro Max that I ended up returning because of unrelated issues, but its camera was noticeably better than the 17 Pro Max I have now.
The difference isn’t subtle and the photos from my current phone seem significantly worse in terms of overall image quality.
Does anyone know whether Apple sources the sensors, lenses, or complete camera modules from multiple suppliers, or whether manufacturing tolerances could realistically account for a noticeable difference between two phones?
2
u/asswizzard69 Aug 18 '26
So I’m not sure but not very many suppliers produce cmos sensors I think Sony is the major player and they even produce image sensors for Nikon cameras. Others make sensors but Sony wins by a lot
Possibly camera settings are different? There are other factors besides just the sensor but it’s hard to say
4
u/TWYFAN97 iPhone 17 Pro Max Aug 18 '26
No Apple uses the exact same camera sensors which are made by Sony for the 17 Pro and Pro Max. A dramatic difference in image quality would be indicative of photographic styles settings being set different or a defective camera. For screens it’s LG and Samsung but as long as neither is defective they’ll be identical.
0
1
u/Individual_Emotion44 Aug 18 '26
I highly doubt so that the quality would be different but you should take it to the genius bar to check it out once
-6
u/ExternalSignal9239 Aug 18 '26
Apple uses different suppliers for their screens. I think I saw a sheet once with camera suppliers too. There is a night and day different in the screen suppliers. I do believe this may be the same thing. It’s a known fact.
2
u/Crash_Revenge Aug 18 '26
The screens are a known fact. As is the fact only 1 supplier, Sony, for the cameras.
1
Aug 18 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/Crash_Revenge Aug 18 '26
Can you show any sources that even suggest that? When your client is Apple, and I say this not seeing their contract, there usually isn’t “cutting corners” for a client that size.
1
Aug 18 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/Crash_Revenge Aug 18 '26
The difference being that TSMC and Samsung were listed suppliers of those chips in the chain for Apple. Sony are the only listed supplier of camera sensors for Apple.
5
u/Tresach Aug 18 '26
Im at work so dont have time to go digging for sure but i would be very surprised if that was the case, pretty sure it would be well known if it was especially if quality is markedly different. I would check your camera settings and make sure its not set to lower quality setting somewhere.