In the face of sales concerns surrounding the iPhone 15, renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted that Apple is preparing to deliver a substantial camera upgrade to the iPhone 17 in 2025.

According to a recent blog post by TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 17 lineup will boast a remarkable 24-megapixel front-facing camera equipped with a six-element lens, a notable improvement from the 12-megapixel camera found in both the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15. Kuo believes that this upgrade will lead to a significant enhancement in image quality.

However, Kuo also mentioned that the upcoming iPhone 16, expected to be released in 2024, will maintain the same 12-megapixel front-facing camera as its predecessors, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15.

While the front-facing camera of the iPhone 16 will undergo no changes, Kuo predicts that the top-tier model, the iPhone 16 Pro, will incorporate a periscope lens supplied by Apple partner Genius. This move is expected to benefit Genius, as their technology will be utilized not only in the iPhone 17 front-facing camera but also in the Vision Pro's high-unit pancake and the ultra-wide lens for Huawei's P70 smartphone lineup.

The announcement of a significant camera upgrade for the iPhone comes at a time when two Wall Street firms, Piper Sandler and Barclays, have downgraded Apple due to concerns about iPhone sales.

Piper Sandler analyst Harsh Kumar recently adjusted his rating on Apple from overweight to neutral, expressing worries about iPhone inventory levels. He pointed to concerns related to China, challenging comparisons, and ongoing currency headwinds as contributing factors to the downgrade.

Similarly, Barclays analyst Timothy Long also lowered his rating on the tech giant and was unenthused by the sales performance of the recently released iPhone 15 line. Long further stated that he does not anticipate significant success from the upcoming iPhone 16 line, which is expected to launch in the fall of this year.

Apple shares experienced a slight decline in premarket trading following the news of the downgrades.

As Apple finds itself under scrutiny concerning iPhone sales, the promise of a groundbreaking camera upgrade for the iPhone 17 may help alleviate some of the concerns among investors and consumers alike.