Rumours: iPhone 16 Pro Max to feature 48MP ultra wide camera

WEB DESK: Apple’s forthcoming iPhone 16 Pro Max is rumoured to feature a significantly larger main camera sensor, while both iPhone 16 Pro models will introduce a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera for the first time, according to recent reports from Asia.

A Weibo user, OvO Baby Sauce OvO, has revealed that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will incorporate a custom 48-megapixel Sony IMX903 sensor as its main camera. In contrast, the iPhone 16 Pro will retain the 48-megapixel Sony IMX803 sensor used in the current iPhone 15 Pro models.

The leaker also suggests that the Ultra Wide camera on this year’s iPhone 16 Pro models will see a major upgrade to a 48-megapixel sensor, enhancing light capture and improving photo quality in 0.5x mode, particularly in low-light conditions. Currently, the Ultra Wide lens on the iPhone 15 Pro models is limited to 12 megapixels.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s advanced main camera sensor. In January, a Weibo user known as “Digital Chat Station” hinted at similar details.

This earlier leak described the custom Sony IMX903 in the iPhone 16 Pro Max as featuring advanced capabilities like a stacked design for better performance, a 14-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) for superior image data conversion, and Digital Gain Control (DCG) for improved dynamic range and noise management.

The possibility of a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera on both iPhone 16 Pro models was first mentioned last December by Weibo user “Instant Digital.” This rumour suggested that the new Pro devices would be the first to feature dual 48-megapixel sensors, enabling the capture of 48-megapixel ProRAW photos in Ultra Wide mode.

Today’s update supports this claim and aligns with a 2023 forecast by Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu, who predicted that the iPhone 16 Pro would come equipped with a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera.

Looking ahead, the iPhone 17 Pro, expected in 2025, is anticipated to complete the transition of the rear camera array to 48-megapixel sensors, extending this technology to the Telephoto lens, which currently remains at 12 megapixels on the iPhone 15 Pro models.

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