iPhone 17 Pro's lack of Night mode in Portrait mode draws criticism

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The iPhone 17 Pro brings many technical improvements, but loses a feature that has been standard on Pro models since 2020. Portrait mode can no longer be used in conjunction with Night mode on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. This limitation is particularly noticeable because it quickly becomes apparent in everyday use, and because previous devices handled it without any problems. The absence of Night mode in Portrait mode is therefore causing discussion, especially among users who relied on this combination.

Since the iPhone 12 Pro, the combination of Portrait mode and Night mode has been an essential tool for capturing clear, color-accurate portraits with true depth of field in low light. The iPhone 17 Pro breaks with this tradition. Although the camera hardware is powerful enough, the feature is completely absent. There have been no official explanations so far. The effect is simply noticeable and has been causing confusion in forums, reviews, and discussions for months.

No portrait mode in Night mode on the iPhone 17 Pro

In practical testing of the iPhone 17 Pro, it immediately becomes apparent that Night mode disappears as soon as Portrait mode is selected. The camera app then displays neither the crescent moon icon nor the option to manually activate Night mode. Automatic activation also fails to occur. This affects both the iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

At first glance, this change doesn't appear to be a technical error, but rather a deliberate adjustment. Especially since the function has been reliably available for generations.

How to test the behavior

The limitation can easily be verified. In photo mode, simply open the camera and cover the rear cameras. This simulates low-light conditions. The crescent moon icon for night mode will automatically appear in the top right corner. The corresponding switch will also appear in the options menu.

If portrait mode is selected in the carousel instead and the same low-light simulation is performed, no crescent moon appears. There is also no night mode switch in the options menu. The camera simply takes normal portrait photos without any night optimization.

Comparison to older Pro models

All Pro models since the iPhone 12 Pro support Portrait mode in Night mode. This includes the iPhone 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max. On these devices, Night mode does not disappear when Portrait mode is selected.

Apple lists these exact models in the official iOS 26 user guide. The iPhone 17 Pro is completely missing. This suggests that the change is planned and not due to a software bug.

Suggestions from the community

Reports surfaced weeks ago in Reddit posts and Apple's own discussion forums that the Portrait mode on the iPhone 17 Pro no longer offers a Night mode. Interestingly, the DXOMARK camera test also pointed out this limitation in September, but the issue didn't receive much attention.

The fact that the discussion only gained momentum late is probably due to Apple not communicating the change and many users only noticing in everyday life that something is missing.

Possible technical reasons

The iPhone 17 Pro's camera hardware could theoretically still combine both modes. That's why the decision seems confusing. One possible reason lies in the resolution. Night mode photos are traditionally taken at 12 megapixels, while portrait photos on the iPhone 17 Pro are taken at 24 megapixels. It could be that Apple is focusing more on the higher resolution in portrait mode and therefore didn't implement the previous combination.

Apple has not yet officially issued a statement or announced whether a software update might bring back the feature.

Why it seems like a step backwards

For those who regularly used the combination of Portrait and Night mode, its absence feels like a step backward. Portraits taken at night or in dark indoor spaces suffer in quality because the optimized low-light algorithms don't work. This means the loss of a feature that has been a key characteristic of the Pro series for years.

Users upgrading from a 15 Pro or 16 Pro to the 17 Pro will quickly notice the difference. While the camera remains powerful, certain shooting situations are no longer as flexible.

iPhone 17 Pro: A feature that has surprisingly disappeared

The iPhone 17 Pro brings many new features, but the lack of Night mode in Portrait mode is a noticeable detail that has practical implications. This feature has long been standard on Pro models. Its absence feels unusual and raises questions that Apple has yet to answer.

Until an official statement or update is released, the limitation remains in place. Anyone using the iPhone 17 Pro or planning to buy one should be aware that portrait photos in low light no longer offer the same level of support as in previous generations. (Image: Shutterstock / Stockinq)