From longer zooms to bigger sensors, here are the biggest rumors about Apple’s next camera phone.
ET
The release of iPhone 16 and 16 Pro is anticipated in September, and there are already numerous rumors circulating about Apple’s upcoming flagship smartphones. The speculations range from larger display sizes to new processors, indicating that the next iPhones may come packed with multiple upgrades. As a photographer, I am particularly excited about the camera features of the new iPhones.
Apple has consistently equipped the iPhone with top-of-the-line cameras, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max is no exception. With its 5x optical zoom, it is currently one of the best camera phones available on the market.
But competition is fierce, particularly in the photography arena, so Apple will be looking for ways to keep the phone’s photo-taking skills top notch. So let’s dive into what the rumor mill has been saying about the cameras on the iPhone 16 range.
A new physical camera button
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max brought a new “Action” button to the outer edge of the phone which allows you to customize it to perform various actions like launching the camera or taking a voice memo.
According to MacRumors, the next model of a certain device is rumored to have an additional button that is specifically designed for photographers. This button will work as a camera shutter and will have multiple sensitivity levels. Users can press it halfway to focus and press it fully to take a picture. Moreover, the button will also recognize swipe gestures. A left or right swipe will allow users to zoom in or out on the image.
While the volume buttons have been able to activate the camera shutter for some time, this new button would bring deeper camera controls and allow you to operate the iPhone more like a compact digital camera.
Better zoom for all Pro models
Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo has revealed that the upcoming base model of the iPhone 16 Pro will feature a 5x optical zoom lens. This is a feature previously only available on the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max. The inclusion of this feature in a smaller and more portable package would be a welcome addition for consumers looking for a more compact device with advanced camera capabilities.
It’s possible that both the upcoming iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Max will receive upgrades. Earlier rumors suggested that the iPhone 16 Pro Max would get a “super telephoto” lens offering zoom levels beyond the current 5x range. This feature would be especially helpful for sports or wildlife photographers who require long zoom levels. However, it’s important to note that these rumors were circulating in the summer of last year, before the launch of the iPhone 15. Therefore, it’s best to take them with a grain of salt.
A larger image sensor
A recent report by MacRumors highlighted that the iPhone 16 Pro’s primary camera might feature an even larger image sensor than its predecessor. According to claims made by Weibo user Digital Chat Station, the sensor size could be increased to 1/1.14 inches, which is larger than the 1/1.28-inch sensor of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
A larger image sensor can capture more light and image information, resulting in better details, dynamic range, and improved low-light performance. Therefore, it would be great to see a significant increase in the sensor size. It would be wise for Apple to improve its game in this area, considering that phones like Xiaomi 14 Ultra are already using even more extensive image sensors of 1/0.98 inches (known as 1-inch type) for their primary cameras.
Higher-resolution ultrawide cameras
The ultrawide cameras on iPhones have not seen any significant improvement in resolution since the iPhone 11. However, according to a report by renowned analyst Jeff Pu, both the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will feature ultrawide cameras with a resolution of 48 megapixels, a significant upgrade from the previous 12 megapixels. The report was spotted by 9to5Mac.
Vertical camera arrangement
There have been rumors and leaked renders suggesting that the upcoming iPhone 16 and 16 Plus models will have a vertical camera layout, instead of the diagonal form seen on the iPhone 15. This design change will make the new models look more similar to the iPhone 12. However, there may be a bigger reason for this change beyond simple aesthetics.
A vertical camera layout, similar to the one mentioned, would make it easier for phones to capture spatial video by utilizing information from both cameras. This would create a 3D-like effect in the video. Although Apple introduced spatial video shooting in the iPhone 15 Pro range, it was not available on the base iPhone 15 models. This is likely due to the difference in camera layout between the two models.
When played on an iPhone, spatial videos appear as regular 2D videos, but when viewed on Apple’s Vision Pro headset, they create a 3D effect.
Other things we want to see
Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is scheduled for June 10, where the company is expected to unveil the latest version of its mobile operating system, iOS 18. It is predicted that artificial intelligence (AI) will play a significant role in the new software, particularly in the camera features. The iPhone’s camera already incorporates AI technology to varying degrees, including computational photography, skin tone adjustment, depth mapping, and automatic settings selection when capturing an image.
Advanced AI technology can significantly improve scene recognition, leading to better utilization of settings and processing to capture more visually appealing images. I have observed the efficacious AI object removal feature of Google Pixel range, and it is probable that we will see comparable AI-based editing tools in the upcoming iPhone models.
Speaking of editing, it’s possible Apple may introduce more ways to edit video on the phone, in particular when shooting using Log on the 15 Pro and Pro Max. Log video is designed to look flat and gray when shot as it gives a better base for editing and adding color and contrast back in later.
Right now you have to transfer that footage to an iPad or computer to edit your Log videos in software like BlackMagic’s DaVinci Resolve, so it’d be good to see Apple introduce more ways to process Log footage on the phone. Perhaps even to introduce its own range of “LUTs” — presets used to quickly apply color and contrast to videos — into the iPhone’s edit tools.
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