Apple's newest iPhone has removed a well-liked camera function.

A feature present since 2020 is missing, and the surrounding silence is only making Apple look bad.
The iPhone 17 Pro no longer supports Night mode when Portrait mode is enabled.
Users on Reddit and Apple's forums first noticed that enabling Portrait mode on the iPhone 17 Pro disables Night mode. Likewise, Portrait mode cannot be activated in low light when Night mode is already running.
An Apple support document confirms this behavior. The document indicates that the iPhone 12 Pro through iPhone 16 Pro Max support Night mode portraits, but the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are excluded.
Apple has not explained the change, which has led to user frustration. Night mode portraits have been available since 2020, and the 17 Pro has camera improvements, such as 48 MP sensors on all three lenses, simultaneous photo-and-video capture, and Center Stage support for the front camera.
However, the 17 Pro appears to have a problem with Night mode portraits. According to Macworld, Night mode photos on the 17 Pro lack the depth data needed for Portrait mode's bokeh effect. The phone cannot combine the two features without this depth map, a limitation absent on the prior 16 Pro.
This is an unusual downgrade for a high-end iPhone camera. It is unknown if this is a technical problem with the new 48 MP triple-camera system, a temporary issue, or a permanent change, as Apple has not commented.
This removal could be a significant issue for users who frequently use Night mode portraits in low light. If Apple does not fix this, the iPhone 17 Pro will be inferior to older models in this specific regard.