iPhone 17 Pro Loses Key Low-Light Feature: Portrait Night Mode Disappears

Apple’s latest flagship phones are missing a camera capability. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max cannot use Night mode while in Portrait mode. This change breaks a feature available for five years.

Users first reported the issue on forums months ago. Apple’s own iOS 26 guide now confirms the limitation. It is a notable omission for a premium device.

Official Documentation Confirms the Omission

Apple’s iPhone User Guide lists supported models. According to the document, Portrait Night mode works on iPhone 12 Pro through iPhone 16 Pro. The iPhone 17 Pro series is absent from this list.

The guide was spotted by Macworld. This official source validates user complaints. Apple has not publicly commented on the reason.

Testing is simple for any owner. Cover the lenses in Photo mode and the Night mode icon appears. Switch to Portrait mode in the same light and the icon vanishes. The option is completely unavailable.

Puzzling Hardware Decision Sparks User Frustration

The removal is confusing to industry observers. The iPhone 17 Pro’s camera hardware is advanced. It should technically support combining the two computational photography modes.

One theory involves resolution limits. Night mode photos are typically 12 megapixels. Portrait mode can capture at 24 megapixels. This technical conflict might be the cause.

For consumers, it feels like a step backward. Previous Pro owners could capture detailed low-light portraits. New flagship buyers cannot. This perceived downgrade is causing dissatisfaction.

The feature could return in a future software update. Apple has not indicated if this is planned. The company is expected to provide clarity soon.

The missing iPhone 17 Pro Portrait Night mode feature highlights an unusual regression. Premium phone buyers expect continuous improvement, not the loss of established capabilities. This change impacts users who rely on their phone for professional-quality low-light photography.

Thought you’d like to know

What is Portrait Night mode?

It is a camera feature that combines Portrait mode’s depth effect with Night mode’s low-light enhancement. It allows for clear, detailed portrait photos in dark environments. It has been a staple on iPhone Pro models.

Which iPhone models are affected?

Only the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max lack this feature. All iPhone Pro models from the iPhone 12 Pro through the iPhone 16 Pro support Portrait Night mode. Standard iPhone models never had this capability.

Can this be fixed with a software update?

Potentially, yes. The hardware is capable. Apple could re-enable the feature in a future iOS update. The company has not announced any plans to do so yet.

How does this affect photo quality?

Portraits taken in low light on the iPhone 17 Pro will not use Night mode processing. This could result in more noise, less detail, and poorer color in dark scenes. It is a noticeable quality drop for a key use case.

Why would Apple remove this feature?

Apple has not explained the reason. Speculation points to a software bug or a technical conflict with new camera sensors. It may also be a deliberate choice to differentiate future updates.

Where was this information confirmed?

Apple’s official iOS 26 iPhone User Guide lists the supported models. The omission was highlighted in a report by Macworld. User reports on Reddit and Apple’s forums first raised the alarm.