Portrait Mode, first introduced with the iPhone 7 Plus, uses depth data to simulate a background blur effect. Starting with the iPhone 12 Pro, the inclusion of a LiDAR sensor allowed Portrait Mode to be used in tandem with Night Mode, enabling sharper portraits in low-light environments.

However, on the iPhone 17 Pro, this pairing is gone.

Users on Reddit, Apple support forums, and even Apple’s official documentation have confirmed that Night Portrait Mode has been silently removed from the iPhone 17 lineup.

How Night Mode works

For those unfamiliar, Night Mode works by extending exposure time - from 1 to 30 seconds depending on ambient lighting - so the camera can capture more light, resulting in brighter and more detailed images in the dark.

Since the iPhone 15 Pro, most standard photos could automatically be turned into portraits, as the camera system would capture depth data by default.

But on the iPhone 17 Pro, Night Mode no longer records depth information, making it impossible to convert those shots into Portrait Mode later.

In fact, when users attempt to take portrait photos in low light, the Night Mode option vanishes from the screen.

Not a bug - Apple confirms the removal

Tech outlet Macworld verified this change by comparing the iPhone 17 Pro Max with several older iPhone models, all of which still support Portrait Mode in low light - even when running iOS 26.

This confirms that the omission is not due to software error. Apple has officially acknowledged that Night Mode is no longer supported for Portrait Mode on the iPhone 17 Pro.

Why did Apple remove Night Portrait Mode?

While Apple has not provided an official explanation, there are some plausible theories.

Night Mode extends the exposure time by several seconds, which can frustrate users unfamiliar with how it works. Many people dislike having to hold the phone still for long periods, and the automatic activation of Night Mode may cause missed moments.

When combined with Portrait Mode, exposure times stretch even longer. Apple may have removed the feature to improve the user experience, particularly for new or casual users.

But this raises another question: does Night Mode actually improve Portrait shots? Is the image quality better without it?

The trade-off: brightness vs. clarity

Test results show that while Night Mode portraits are indeed brighter, they also suffer from more noise and processing artifacts. Portrait photos taken with the iPhone 17 Pro Max in low-light conditions appear slightly darker but offer cleaner details and less grain.

Additionally, Night Mode photos are limited to 12MP resolution, whereas standard Portrait Mode can now shoot at 24MP, delivering sharper and more detailed images.

These findings suggest Apple’s decision may prioritize image quality - cleaner, crisper portraits - over pure brightness.

Night Mode isn’t gone entirely

To be clear, Night Mode still exists in the standard photo mode on the iPhone 17 Pro. But the removal of Night Portrait Mode - especially without any official communication - has raised curiosity and concern among longtime iPhone users.

For now, if you own an iPhone 17 Pro or 17 Pro Max, you’ll have to choose between brighter nighttime shots or artistic background blur. Unless Apple reverses course, this feature may be gone for good.

Hai Phong