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iPhone 16 camera: All the upgrades we expect

Updated: Aug 23, 2024, 6:16 AM

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iPhone 16 camera: All the upgrades we expect

A big chunk of the upgrades coming with Apple's iPhone 16 series seems to be related to the camera system. The most notable change is a rumored 48MP ultrawide camera that will be featured on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, promising a significant boost in image quality.

The iPhone 16 Pro is also said to come with the same 5X zoom telephoto camera that will come with the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Additionally, new lens materials are expected to reduce reflections and camera module size.

The Pro models are also said to be the first iPhones to come with high quality slow-motion video, with support for 3K 120FPS recording.

As for the non-Pro iPhone 16 models, they might finally come with support for Macro Mode, which will be shot via a slightly better ultra-wide camera with a faster lens.

On a more superficial level, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will probably have a new design for their cameras at the back to accommodate Spatial Video for the Apple Vision Pro.

But the most talked about camera-related change said to be coming with the iPhone 16 series is arguably the new dedicated capture button, which has the potential to change the way we take photos and record video with the iPhone.

Let's take a more detailed look and see why the iPhone 16 series might bring the most exciting camera upgrades to iPhones in recent years!

iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max camera upgrades

A new much better ultra-wide camera

Finally! Apple is said to get rid of the 12MP ultra-wide camera it has stuck to for so long and replace it with a new one that has higher 48MP resolution.

Just like the main sensor, this new 48MP ultra-wide camera is expected to snap 24MP default photos via pixel-binning. This should mean that we get the same jump in image detail that we saw when we compared the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro main cameras last year.

The addition of this new 48MP sensor should also mean Apple's ProRAW format that preserves significantly more information will be available when shooting with the ultra-wide camera. This format allows for much more flexibility when editing and a level of image quality that's closer to what you would see from an expensive camera.

Some more nerdy details: The new ultra-wide camera on the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max comes with 1.4 micrometer pixels when shooting at 24MP resolution images and 1.7 micrometer pixels when snapping 48MP shots.

5X telephoto camera comes to the regular iPhone Pro

Apple will most likely bring the same 5X tetraprism telephoto lens featured on the pricier iPhone Pro Max to the smaller iPhone Pro, replacing the 3X telephoto lens that was featured on previous generations.

The sensor for the telephoto camera will remain the same, though, with 12MP resolution and an f/2.8 aperture.

High quality slow-motion video

We have been waiting for this feature for ages, and the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are rumored to finally bring it along! Both are said to be capable of 3K video at 120 frames per second (FPS) with Dolby Vision.

For comparison, last year's iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max (as well as the models before them) were capable of 1080P at 120FPS and 240FPS, as well as 4K at 60FPS.

New lens material and coating (maybe)

Rumors suggest Apple is adding a special coating to the lenses called ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition). This fancy coating should help reduce those annoying streaks of light (lens flare) that can sometimes ruin your photos, especially at night.

Another bonus? The lenses themselves might be lighter and thinner thanks to a new type of molded glass. This could mean a smaller camera bump on the back of the phone, making it sleeker and easier to handle.

iPhone 16 and 16 Plus camera upgrades

A dedicated capture button

A photo of an iPhone 16 dummy showcasing how the new capture button might look like and its potential positioning. (Image credit to Apple Insider)

Probably the upgrade that caught the most attention was the rumoured capture button. This new button is expected to come with all iPhone 16 models, and it will sit at the lower-half of the iPhone's right side, perfectly positioned so that your right hand's index finger rests upon it when you turn the phone sideways.

The new capture button on the iPhone 16 series will function much like a professional camera's shutter button, meaning you will be able to half-press it to lock the focus and then press stronger to take the shot.

Some of you might not be too happy to learn that the button will be capacitive instead of mechanical, which means it does not move as you press on it. Instead, it will be able to sense the force you apply to it, while the phone will most likely use the vibration motor to signal input.

The capture button will work specifically for camera-related features and with camera-related apps. You will be able to decide which app the button opens yourself, even if it is a third-party one.

Given that it is capacitive and therefore touch-sensitive, the button will most likely also act as a tiny trackpad, allowing quick controls via sliding your finger while the camera is active.

Macro photography might finally come to the regular iPhones

Arguably the most exciting thing about the iPhone 16 that a new camera-centric report revealed was that Macro Mode might finally be coming to the regular iPhone and iPhone Plus this year.

Slightly improved ultra-wide camera

The ultra-wide camera on the non-Pro iPhone 16 models will come with a new slightly faster lens with f/2.2 aperture vs. the f/2.4 aperture of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus.

This wider aperture will allow for more light to enter through the ultra-wide camera on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, resulting in better images in darker environments. It also means that there will be slightly more bokeh (or blurred out background and foreground).

New image file format

Reports also state that the iPhone 16 series will come with a new image format dubbed JPEG-XL, but there is no word on what exactly the benefits of this new file type will be.

New camera layout

The new vertical layout for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus cameras makes the camera island much smaller. (Image credit to AppleInsider)

The wide and ultra-wide cameras on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will come in a vertical orientation to enable Spatial Video, which is intended to be viewed on the Apple Vision Pro headset. Diagonally positioned cameras like the ones on recent non-Pro iPhones can't record Spatial Video, hence the change.

How many cameras will the iPhone 16 have?

The number of cameras on the iPhone 16 series will be the same as with the iPhone 15 lineup. That means we can expect a triple camera system on the Pro models including the main, ultra-wide, and telephoto cameras. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will come with one camera less, rocking just the main and an ultra-wide snappers.

Of course, all four iPhone 16 models will also come with front-facing cameras embedded in the display.

How many megapixels will the iPhone 16 cameras have?

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max camera megapixels:

Main (wide-angle): 48 MP
Ultrawide: 48 MP
Telephoto: 12MP
Front: 12 MP

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus camera megapixels:

Main (wide-angle): 48 MP
Ultrawide: 12 MP
Front: 12 MP

iPhone 16 expected camera specs

Here's an overview of the expected camera specs for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max:

Main (wide) camera—48 MP Sony IMX903 sensor, 1/1.14" sensor size, f/1.78 aperture, 24mm lens equivalent, optical image stabilization (OIS)
Ultrawide camera—48 MP, 1/2.6" sensor size, 0.7um pixel size, f/2.2 aperture, 13mm lens equivalent
iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max: Telephoto camera—5X optical zoom, 12 MP, 1/3.06" sensor size, 1.12um pixel size, f/2.2 aperture, 120mm lens equivalent, OIS
Front camera—12MP, 1/3.6" sensor size, f/1.9 aperture, 23mm lens equivalent, OIS

Most notable from the specs above is the new 48MP ultra-wide camera on the Pro models. A bit less noticeable is the new main 48 MP Sony IMX903 image sensor, which has the same resolution as last year's main camera but is larger in comparison. The bigger size should allow for better low-light performance and more natural portraits with blurred background and foreground.

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Aleksandar is a tech enthusiast with a broad range of interests, from smartphones to space exploration. His curiosity extends to hands-on DIY experiments with his gadgets, and he enjoys switching between different brands to experience the latest innovations. Prior to joining PhoneArena, Aleksandar worked on the Google Art Project, digitizing valuable artworks and gaining diverse perspectives on technology. When he's not immersed in tech, Aleksandar is an outdoorsman who enjoys mountain hikes, wildlife photography, and nature conservation. His interests also extend to martial arts, running, and snowboarding, reflecting his dynamic approach to life and technology.