For years, the iPhone vs Android camera battle has been all about megapixels, zoom, and software tricks, but this time, it\u2019s gone way beyond Earth. In a historic first, NASA astronauts on the Artemis II mission used the iPhone 17 Pro Max to capture stunning images of our planet from deep space, giving Apple a moment no Android phone can currently match.<\/p>\n
This view just hits different \ud83c\udf0d Each crew member aboard NASA\u2019s Artemis II mission is carrying an iPhone 17 Pro Max for personal use after it was cleared for extended operation in space earlier this year. Recently shared images show Commander Reid Wiseman and Mission Specialist Christina Koch gazing back at Earth through Orion\u2019s window, offering a rare and human perspective from deep space.<\/p>\n ALSO SEE: Redmi Note 15 SE vs Redmi Note 15: Which One Should You Buy?<\/a><\/p>\n Metadata from Flickr confirms that these photos were taken on April 2 using the iPhone 17 Pro Max\u2019s front camera. The images were later processed using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic, likely for adjustments such as exposure, contrast, and cropping. While Android devices have previously traveled to space, none have been used on a crewed deep-space mission to capture images of Earth in this way.<\/p>\n For comparison, Samsung sent the Samsung Galaxy S24 into near space in 2024 using a high-altitude balloon, reaching only the edge of the atmosphere. The iPhone 17 Pro Max, however, is part of a full-fledged NASA mission, actively used by astronauts aboard Artemis II to document Earth from much farther away.<\/p>\n Alongside the iPhone, the mission is equipped with professional-grade cameras like the Nikon D5, Nikon Z 9, and GoPro HERO4 Black. Artemis II also marks NASA\u2019s first crewed Moon mission since Apollo 17 mission, and is expected to set a new record for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth, making the iPhone 17 Pro Max the most distant-traveling smartphone ever used.<\/p>\n ALSO SEE: Oneplus Nord 6 First Impressions: A Battery Beast With Flagship Intent<\/a><\/p>\n
@Astro_Christina<\/a> and @astro_reid<\/a> take a moment to look back at Earth as they continue deep into space toward the Moon. pic.twitter.com\/NMDeLj256K<\/a>
\n\u2014 NASA (@NASA) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n