iPhone 17 Pro drops night portrait mode — and users aren’t happy 🌑📸

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Every new iPhone generation promises something faster, smarter, or more impressive. But this year, Apple quietly removed a fan-favorite feature from the iPhone 17 Pro: the ability to shoot Portrait mode photos with Night mode enabled. A combo that debuted with the iPhone 12 Pro—and became a go-to for atmospheric evening shots—has simply vanished, a change users noticed on day one.

A once-magical pairing that’s suddenly gone 🔦

For four years, Apple’s Pro models could blend Portrait mode with Night mode, using LiDAR to keep faces crisp while pulling in extra light for low-light scenes. On the iPhone 17 Pro, that pairing is no longer available: switching to Portrait automatically disables Night mode. Apple later confirmed in its documentation that this isn’t a bug but an intentional change.

The confusing part: nothing technical seems to justify it 🤨

That’s what makes the decision even stranger. The LiDAR sensor—the key component that made night portraits possible—is still there. Some speculate that Apple believes the new 48-megapixel sensors gather enough light on their own. But if that were the case, why keep Night mode for regular photos and selfies? For many users, this feels like a step backward in low light, resulting in darker, less flattering portraits.

User reactions: frustration and a sense of regression 😤

Across forums and social platforms, users are voicing their disappointment. The removal genuinely impacts everyday shooting, especially for indoor and evening photography. Many hope Apple will reverse course with a software update. For now, though, the company hasn’t offered an explanation—or an alternative.

Temporary setback or a shift in Apple’s strategy? 🚀

Apple is known for trimming features as it refines its vision, but this change raises a real question: is sacrificing a well-loved feature worth the trade-off for whatever comes next? Time will tell whether night portrait mode makes a comeback or whether Apple is signaling a new direction for iPhone photography.

👉🏾 Does losing night portrait mode bother you, or is it no big deal? Do you think Apple will bring it back? Share your thoughts in the comments!