The upcoming iPhone 16 Pro series is expected to introduce several new features. The displays will be larger, and there will be a dedicated Capture button added. Additionally, there are anticipated to be numerous notable enhancements made to the camera hardware on both the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. There are four key things that users can look forward to with this year’s iPhone 16 Pro lineup.
New iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max camera features
Upgraded Ultra Wide camera
Multiple reports indicate that both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature an upgraded 48MP Ultra Wide camera this year. This represents a substantial improvement over the current 12MP Ultra Wide camera found in the iPhone 15 Pro.
This camera upgrade is expected to significantly enhance the iPhone 16 Pro’s Ultra Wide camera performance in most shooting scenarios, especially in low-light conditions. The higher-resolution 48MP sensor should result in images with more detail and improved color accuracy. Additionally, the increased resolution will provide users with more flexibility when it comes to editing and post-processing their photos.
The upgrade to a 48MP Ultra Wide camera on the iPhone 16 Pro could also lead to substantial improvements in spatial video recording capabilities. Spatial video relies on the combined use of the Main and Ultra Wide lenses. With the increase in resolution of the Ultra Wide camera, it’s possible that the iPhone 16 Pro will be able to record spatial video in 4K resolution. This would mark a significant upgrade from the current iPhone 15 Pro, which is limited to recording spatial video at 1080p resolution only.
Expanded optical zoom
The current iPhone 15 Pro Max utilizes a new tetaprism camera design that enables 5x optical zoom and 25x digital zoom capabilities. However, for the upcoming iPhone 16 lineup, Apple is expected to expand the use of this upgraded tetaprism camera design to the smaller iPhone 16 Pro model as well. This means that both the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max will offer at least 5x optical zoom and 25x digital zoom.
Additionally, there has been one unverified rumor suggesting that the iPhone 16 Pro Max may feature something called a “periscope ultra-long telephoto combination.” If true, this could potentially allow for optical zoom capabilities greater than 5x. However, this particular rumor has not been corroborated by additional sources beyond a single report from last year.
Anti-reflective coating
One common issue that iPhone camera users frequently encounter is lens flare when shooting in bright lighting conditions. This problem can lead to unwanted artifacts and internal lens flare reflections appearing in captured images. While this is a hardware challenge affecting most cameras on the market, Apple is reportedly working on a solution for the iPhone 16 Pro.
According to a rumor, Apple is currently testing a new “atomic layer deposition” (ALD) lens coating technology that could be applied to the camera lenses on the iPhone 16 Pro. This anti-reflective coating is expected to help minimize the effects of internal reflections that cause lens flare, potentially addressing a longstanding pain point for iPhone photographers.
If the rumor about Apple’s ALD lens coating technology for the iPhone 16 Pro turns out to be accurate, it would likely result in fewer unexpected artifacts appearing in images captured with the device, particularly in bright lighting conditions.
Upgraded Main camera
Lastly, the iPhone 16 Pro is expected to feature a new Main camera sensor provided by Sony, which is said to have an upgraded design aimed at improving low-light performance.
Sony’s latest stacked sensor technology separates the photo diodes and pixel transistors, which are typically combined into a single layer. This design allows the photo diodes, which are responsible for capturing light, to be significantly larger while maintaining the same overall pixel size. According to Sony, this sensor architecture enables it to capture twice as much light compared to existing camera sensor designs.
The ability to capture more light and reduce noise levels should translate to overall improved photographic quality for iPhone users.
However, one piece of information that remains unclear is whether this next-generation Sony camera sensor will be used in both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models. At least one rumor from the Chinese social media platform Weibo has suggested that the upgraded stacked sensor hardware may be exclusive to the larger iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Wrap up
The iPhone 16 series is anticipated to be unveiled in September. Of the camera improvements rumored for the iPhone 16 Pro, which ones are you most excited to see this year? Are you planning to upgrade to the new iPhone 16 Pro model? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
