iPhone 16 Pro 48MP ultra-wide camera allegedly on the way

The iPhone 16 Pro could offer even more photographic upgrades in hardware, with a leaker claiming Apple will include a second 48-megapixel sensor in its triple-camera setup.

Apple's 2023 iPhone 15 Pro launches mixed a 48-megapixel main camera sensor alongside a pair of 12-megapixel sensors for the ultra-wide and telephoto versions. One year later, Apple could upgrade a second sensor.

In a post to social media site Weibo on Monday morning, serial leaker "Setsuna Digital" posted that it is "time for the 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens" to be included in the iPhone 16 Pro.

The leaker doesn't offer any more information beyond the claim, but it seems to be a fairly logical progression for Apple to take. The 48-megapixel main camera allowed the company to, via some selective cropping on the main camera sensor, give users the equivalent of four optical focal lengths from three cameras.

Thanks to pixel binning, the sensor also provided improved low-light photography.

Upgrading a second camera to 48-megapixels makes sense, including reducing the cost of the component by using more of them. It is unclear why the ultra-wide camera is the target this time around, as an upgraded telephoto could allow for an improved optical zoom, simply by cropping the sensor again.

This is not the only instance of a rumor about a second 48MP sensor. In August, an analyst proposed a second rear camera sensor at that resolution is a possibility.

Setsuna Digital does have a significant following online for rumors across multiple devices, but it doesn't have that much of a track record for Apple hardware. They have previously mentioned that the next upgrade for the Apple Watch Ultra could be a switch from OLED to microLED in 2025, but again with little actual workable detail.

6 Comments

wood1208 10 Years · 2938 comments

About 1 year ago

I am no expert in photography but isn't higher pixel telephoto lens better since the main iPhone camera is already higher pixel camera. To capture further away at distance sharper picture, don't you need higher pixels telephoto lens camera ?

hmlongco 9 Years · 586 comments

"It is unclear why the ultra-wide camera is the target this time around, as an upgraded telephoto could allow for an improved optical zoom, simply by cropping the sensor again."

They all should be upgraded, but I suspect that this specifically improves the resolution when capturing Spatial Video.

Slupor1 1 Year · 1 comment

I would think that this is a logical choice. The main camera and Ultra wide are used to shoot spatial video for Vision Pro. My thought and speculation would be that with this upgrade to 2 48MP sensors, it maybe allows the iPhone 16 Pro to shoot 4K spatial video...

Anyone who thinks the same ?

rob53 13 Years · 3312 comments

wood1208 said:

I am no expert in photography but isn't higher pixel telephoto lens better since the main iPhone camera is already higher pixel camera. To capture further away at distance sharper picture, don't you need higher pixels telephoto lens camera ?

Yes you do. If the main camera (actually a wide angle in photography terms) gets the highest resolution why shouldn’t the telephoto get the same pixel resolution? My 2x camera setting on my 14 Pro Max is similar to a 1:1 50mm full frame 35mm camera. I’d like to do more telephoto shots of animals and small objects that are at a distance and having a real telephoto (optical 200mm to 600mm equivalent) with high pixel count could mean I could sell all my 35mm cameras and just use my iPhone (I know pixel size matters and the iPhone’s sensor uses small pixels compared to my APC 35mm Canon sensors). I have to wonder if Apple could build a 35mm equivalent 28-300mm periscope telephoto lens and just use the one camera. I regularly adjust my camera setting so I don’t actually know which camera is being used. An alternative would be a 48Mp sensor with a telephoto mount (like Sandmarc) for telephoto lens. Most if my shots use the standard 1x camera anyway. Just a thought Apple.

bobolicious 10 Years · 1177 comments

... until the UWA (particularly the edges) gets sharpened up is this a bit pointless...?

https://www.lux.camera/content/images/img_8724-1424x1068.jpg

I understand the 15 remained unchanged, if less critically reviewed...

No small feat I'd prefer a lesser angle if it could match or beat the Zeiss Exolens for sharpness - with raw in particular I find it a remarkable image maker...

www.wexphotovideo.com/blog/reviews/zeiss-exolens-review/

www.macworld.com/article/229081/exolens-with-optics-by-zeiss-review-superb-lenses-for-iphone-photography.html