The iPhone 16 Pro series is set to introduce new features including bigger screens, a Capture button, and more. Additionally, there will be several significant upgrades to the camera systems of both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Here are four exciting updates to expect this year.
Enhanced Ultra Wide camera
Numerous sources indicate that both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature a new 48MP Ultra Wide camera this year. This is a major upgrade from the 12 MP Ultra Wide camera found in the iPhone 15 Pro.
This upgrade should improve the iPhone 16 Pro’s Ultra Wide camera across various shooting conditions, especially in dim light. The pictures will have more detail and better color. Plus, the higher resolution will allow for more options when editing and processing the images.
The iPhone 16 Pro’s 48MP Ultra Wide camera could significantly enhance spatial video recording. This feature uses both the Main and Ultra Wide lenses. With the new 48MP Ultra Wide, the iPhone 16 Pro might be able to record spatial video in 4K resolution. Right now, the iPhone 15 Pro only records it at 1080p resolution.
Enhanced optical zoom
The iPhone 15 Pro Max currently features a tetaprism camera design that allows for 5x optical zoom and 25x digital zoom. With the upcoming iPhone 16 series, Apple plans to include this upgraded tetaprism camera in the smaller iPhone 16 Pro as well. This will enable both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max to have at least 5x optical zoom and 25x digital zoom.
There’s an additional detail to consider: a less reliable rumor claims that the iPhone 16 Pro Max might include a “periscope ultra-long telephoto combination.” This feature could provide optical zoom beyond 5x. However, as of now, this rumor has not been confirmed beyond that one source from last year.
Anti-reflective coating
A common issue faced by iPhone camera users is lens flare, which occurs in bright lighting conditions and results in unwanted artifacts and reflections in photos. This is a widespread hardware issue, but Apple is reportedly working on a solution for the iPhone 16 Pro.
A rumor suggests that Apple is experimenting with a new technology called “atomic layer deposition” (ALD) for lens coating. This anti-reflective coating could be used on the iPhone 16 Pro’s camera lenses to reduce the impact of these internal reflections.
If this rumor proves true, it would result in fewer unwanted artifacts on photos taken with the iPhone 16 Pro, particularly in bright lighting conditions.
Upgraded Main Camera
The iPhone 16 Pro is expected to feature a new main camera sensor from Sony, designed to enhance low-light performance.
Sony’s advanced stacked sensor technology separates the photo diodes and pixel transistors, which are usually in one layer. This separation makes the photo diodes — the parts that capture light — much larger within the same pixel size. Sony states that this sensor can gather twice as much light as current camera sensors.
Capturing more light and reducing more noise results in better photos for iPhone users.
However, it’s still uncertain if this new Sony sensor will be used in both iPhone 16 Pro models. A rumor from Weibo suggests that only the iPhone 16 Pro Max will have this enhanced stacked camera sensor.
What we think?
I think the new iPhone 16 Pro will be amazing for photos. The bigger 48MP Ultra Wide camera will make pictures clearer, especially in low light.
The 5x optical zoom is exciting because you can see things far away more clearly. If the anti-reflective coating works, it will make photos in bright light look better without weird reflections. The new main camera could make all my photos look even better.
