- iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max could have a smaller camera sensor
- However, an increase in megapixels is also expected
- Changes may not make a big difference to photo quality
The planned launch may still be eight months away, but we’re already hearing plenty of leaks and rumors surrounding the Apple iPhone 17 – and the latest info from those in the know suggests that the Pro and Pro Max models’ cameras could benefit from the two downgrades. and upgrades.
According to noted tipster Digital Chat Station (via MacRumors), the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will sport a 48MP+48MP+48MP triple-lens camera on the back – a megapixel jump from the triple-lens 48MP+48MP+. 12MP camera installed on the back of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
That’s the upgrade, but the downgrade is that the 48MP main camera should use a 1/1.3-inch sensor rather than a 1/1.28-inch sensor – a small reduction in size . Generally speaking, the bigger the sensor, the better, as it’s able to capture more light and more detail in whatever you’re shooting.
Rumors around a telephoto lens upgrade from 12MP to 48MP have been circulating since last year, but this is the first time we’ve heard of the main camera having a smaller sensor size.
Spot the difference
As for what difference changes in sensor size and megapixel rating will make, it’s hard to say – especially since modern phones apply a lot of image processing to photos and videos after they’re captured. The actual hardware doing the capturing is only partly responsible for the quality of the image and clip.
If the main camera sensors of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are indeed smaller, that could free up space for other components, like a bigger battery or a chipset. more powerful communication (rumor has it that 2025 iPhones will be smaller). will be the first to use a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip made by Apple).
This particular rumor doesn’t say anything about what might happen to the cameras on the standard iPhone 17. As our iPhone 16 review will tell you, both the current model and the iPhone 16 Plus use a 48MP+12MP dual-lens camera setup on the return – and it’s possible there will be changes here too.
Maybe you’ll even want to wait until 2026 and the iPhone 18: the handset has been rumored to include variable aperture on the Pro and Pro Max models’ cameras, meaning better low-light shots and more control over depth of field.
