So those are the phones and their cameras, but what about Apple’s complicated lens math?

During a presentation, Apple displayed images suggesting that the single rear sensor and lens on the iPhone Air can simulate 26mm, 28mm, 35mm, and 52mm-equivalent focal lengths. According to Apple’s technical details for the iPhone Air, zooming to a 52mm-equivalent (2x magnification) reduces resolution to 12MP. The 28mm and 35mm “lenses” are presumably similar to those introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro, which function as follows:

Regarding the iPhone 17 Pro, its three physical lenses are claimed to be equivalent to eight, an increase from the previous year’s assertion of seven for the 16 Pro. Assuming the “pro lenses” start with four from its main camera akin to the Air, the 48MP ultrawide and telephoto cameras account for the additional four. Although The Verge contacted Apple for further explanation and a complete breakdown of these “pro lenses” for both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air, a response was not received by publication. Here’s my best guess at how three lenses translate into eight:

This is how Apple’s lens calculations are applied across its camera systems. During their keynote, company representatives referred to these lenses as “optical quality.” However, does this mean they perform optical zooms? Not exactly. Like the majority of smartphones, they consist of a fixed focal length combined with advanced computational photography. Apple’s use of “optical quality” is more of a marketing ploy. However, the puzzling aspect is how Apple’s website categorizes these lenses across the iPhone 17 series as “optical zoom options.”

Technically, none of these truly qualifies as optical zooms in the conventional sense. A genuine optical zoom lens changes its focal length optically, like twisting a ring on the lens barrel or using a point-and-shoot toggle, physically altering the field of view. In the smartphone realm, “zoom” often loosely refers to telephoto lenses or digital cropping/zoom. Still, using such broad terminology in marketing can feel misleading.

Apple’s marketing strategies often involve vagueness to enhance the perceived value—just try deciphering their charts from past broadcasts. But inflating lens counts seems like a tactic meant to boost feature lists while frustrating photography enthusiasts. As my colleague Allison Johnson highlighted in her comparison between the Google Pixel 10 Pro, with its AI enhancements, and a Nikon camera equipped with substantial optical zoom, traditional optics providing genuine focal lengths outshine a single lens and software improvements. (The Pixel did well adjusting for heat haze, but so too would the Nikon post-processing.)

The iPhone Air is not literally four lenses. But is it like having four lenses? Four “pro” lenses? How about four good lenses? We’ll have to find out.