The iPhone 16 Camera: Pros, Cons & Specs

Competition remains fierce in the world of phone cameras, and with each new launch, several brands have stepped up the quality and design of their photography technology. Take Samsung, for instance, who's recently released Galaxy Z Fold 6 device features an upgraded AI-powered ProVisual Engine and ultra wide camera for enhanced low-light photography.

Apple is a company that's no stranger to this competition, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max's 5x optical zoom being amongst the best camera phone features available on the market today.

And they're not stopping there – from thinner bezels offering larger displays to upgraded buttons, Apple's newest iPhone 16 is expected to launch with a variety of new features. One area that's rumoured to deliver a range of improvements is the camera layout, something which is incredibly exciting for both professional photographers and everyday iPhone users.

Keep reading to discover all the key details about the iPhone 16's new camera system, including its benefits and drawbacks, to help you decide whether the improved image quality, spatial video recording, and low-light performance are worth the investment.

Specs

Before we jump into the pros and cons of the new iPhone 16 camera layout, here are the expected specs for both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max:

• Main Camera: 48MP Sony IMX903 sensor, 1/1.14" sensor size, f/1.79 aperture, 24mm lens equivalent focal length, optical image stabilisation (OIS)
• Ultrawide Camera: 48MP, 1/2.6" sensor size, 0.7um pixel size, f/2.2 aperture, 13mm lens equivalent focal length
• Front Camera: 12 MP, 1/3.6" sensor size, f/1.9 aperture, 23mm lens equivalent focal length, OIS
• Telephoto camera: 12MP, 5X optical zoom, 1/3.06" sensor size, 1.12um pixel size, f/2.2 aperture, 120mm lens equivalent focal length, OIS

The most significant spec upgrades here include the 48MP ultrawide camera, along with the Sony IMX903 image sensor that features the same resolution as the iPhone 15, but larger. This facilitates a better low-light performance, plus more natural portraits that offer a blurred background and foreground.

The base iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have the same front and main camera, but their new systems exclude the telephoto camera and have only a 12MP ultrawide camera.

Pros

From being able to record spatial video for the Apple Vision Pro headset to 5x optical zoom, here are the key benefits offered by the new iPhone 16 camera setup:

1. Ultrawide Cameras

As we've mentioned, one of the most significant rumoured updates for the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Pro models involves the ultrawide cameras. Although they've been pretty neglected since the iPhone 11, the new series will feature 48MP cameras, which is a big increase from the previous 12MP.

This could also offer an eight-part hybrid lens, including two glass elements and six plastic elements for an improved low-light performance.

2. Capture and Action Button

All iPhone 16 models are expected to include the Action button that was limited to the iPhone 15 Pro, replacing the old mute switch above the volume buttons.

As well as changing the ringer settings, this button allows users to conveniently perform a variety of actions, including turning the camera on, triggering do not disturb, launching the torch, and creating customisable shortcuts.

Rumours suggest that the iPhone 16 will also incorporate a new Capture button that acts like a camera shutter. Using multiple levels of sensitivity, you'll be able to perform a range of actions, including the following:

• Autofocus: Press lightly on the Capture button to focus automatically when taking a photo or video
• Take a photo: Press down with more pressure to capture an image
• Zoom: Swipe left or right and you'll be able to zoom in and out
• Modes: Though unconfirmed, the iPhone 16 may feature a new gesture allowing you to switch between photo and video mode

This offers greater control and means that you'll be able to use the iPhone 16 like a digital camera, which is a great update for both professional and amateur photographers.

3. Improved Zoom

Another huge benefit of the iPhone 16 Pro is that it's expected to feature a 5x optical zoom lens, which was only present on the Pro Max model within the previous series.

To give the Samsung Galaxy S23 and 24 Ultra a run for their money, both the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Pro models are also rumoured to be receiving a telephoto lens, which will have an even greater optical zoom range. This is great if you're trying to capture images from long distances, such as in sports or wildlife photography.

4. Image Sensor Upgrade

The main sensor on the iPhone 16 main camera may be increasing in size from the iPhone 15 Pro Max and Pro, taking it from 1/1.28 inches to 1/1.14 inches.

The greatest benefit of having a larger main sensor is that it enables the phone to capture more light, which encourages a better low-light performance and more detail in every image.

5. Vertical Camera Arrangement

According to leaked images of the base iPhone 16 and Plus models, the camera layout is expected to change from diagonal, as seen on the iPhone 15, to vertical.

While making the device slimmer, this vertically aligned camera system also makes it easy to shoot spatial videos by creating a 3D-like effect with the ultrawide and wide cameras, particularly when viewed on the Apple Vision Pro headset.

Cons

Despite the variety of updates, including those made to the 48MP main camera, telephoto camera, and overall camera layout, the number of camera lenses is likely to stay the same as those on the iPhone 15. This includes the main, ultra wide, and selfie camera, plus the telephoto camera on the Pro models.

According to rumours, there's also unlikely to be any changes to the 12MP selfie camera until the iPhone 17. Dedicated iPhone fans will therefore have to wait for further upgrades, which may include 24MP sensors for the front-facing cameras.

You may have noticed that many of the improvements we've mentioned are exclusive to the Pro models, including the ultra wide camera upgrade and 5x optical zoom.

The base and Plus models are only likely to receive some minor design tweaks when compared to the iPhone 15. For example, while the camera island is slightly changing to accommodate the Apple Vision Pro headset that allows you to record Spatial video, this design is only reverting to that of the iPhone 12.

Make the Most of Your iPhone 16 Camera

Although the iPhone 16 Pro Max and base Pro models appear to be experiencing the full benefits of Apple's camera upgrades, we won't know the full picture until the release of the series in autumn 2024.

Whichever model you choose, keeping the triple or quadruple camera system working effectively should be the priority for every user – and that's why investing in a phone case with added camera protection is essential.

Here at Ghostek, we offer a range of cases that feature built-in camera lens protection for the iPhone 15 series and beyond. Along with impact-absorbing technology and drop-proofing, shop our case collection today to benefit from features such as raised border edges and reinforced corners to safeguard both your camera and screen from those accidental falls.