The latest iPhone 17 Pro series, including the Pro Max, has certainly shown how Apple continues to advance its smartphones. New designs often bring excitement, and this generation, with its clear visual changes, seemed to please users. Yet, even with these steps forward, new problems seem to pop up. A fresh issue now plagues the cameras, directly tied to the very design shift people appreciated.
A Flashy New Problem for Pro Models
After the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max hit the market, a wave of device issues began. Previously, some criticized the Pro series’ aluminum frame, claiming it scratched too easily. Now, a new concern has surfaced, focusing on the camera’s flash. Users are reporting that the flash casts annoying shadows on objects in their photos.
Apple decided to move the flash on the iPhone 17 Pro models. It no longer sits within the main camera setup. Instead, it’s now in a different spot on the device. This fresh design choice was largely applauded. Many saw it as a clever move, offering a dedicated zone for photography tools and other vital elements of the phone.
Apple messed up???
The new flash position on the iPhone 17 Pro Max creates unwanted shadows when using the flash.
Here’s a quick comparison of photos taken on the iPhone 17 Pro Max vs. the 14 Pro Max. pic.twitter.com/BZLAf9nvjq
— Ripudaman (@mrtechsense) October 3, 2025
Shadow Play in Photos
Unfortunately, as reports now confirm, this design change led directly to a new problem. This situation has been widely shared by frustrated users. One iPhone 17 Pro Max owner explained that using the camera flash projected a shadow onto the subject. This made their pictures appear blurry and unclear.
Another user clearly stated that the flash’s new position caused the trouble. A content creator broke it down: “When I take pictures with the iPhone 17 Pro series, it looks like the light is shining in from the corner. This is really annoying.”
It’s important to note that older iPhone models did not have this ghosting or blurring problem. This is a fresh issue, highlighted by everyone reporting it on social media and across the internet. It’s a new challenge that Apple needs to address.
Just five days ago, Apple released the iOS 26.0.1 update. This update was reported to fix other problems with the device. However, it’s still unclear if this update tackles the flash issue. The big question remains: Is this shadow problem a software bug or a deeper hardware design flaw? Only time will tell what Apple’s next move will be.