Word out of social media websites in China suggests that Apple has been developing next-generation image sensors with Sony for the iPhone 16 Pro Max that will be larger and more advanced.
The camera sensor should offer 14-bit color and will greatly expand the computational photography that the mobile phone is famous for.
Image Credit – Apple
The news comes from the Chinese Twitter-like social media portal Weibo from an iPhone watcher by the name of “Digital Chat Station.” DCS says that Apple will be positioning the iPhone 16 Pro Max as an “image flagship,” that will largely be focused on computational photography and high-resolution video.
Oh, and it will make phone calls, too.
Image Credit – Apple
The heavily customized Sony IMX903 image sensor is believed to be approximately 12% larger than the iPhone 15 Pro Max with a 1/1.14-inch size. This will translate to 48 megapixels and be in a stacked configuration for better performance.
The image sensor will also be combined with a 14-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and a digital gain controller (DGC) to increase dynamic range, reduce noise, and improve image data conversion.
Moreover, improved bokeh is also the aim of the larger image sensor to provide better background blur and low light performance.
The lower and mid-range iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will also benefit from the technology, though the sensor is believed to be similar in size to the current iPhone 15 at 1/1.14 inches but has many of the next-generation features.
There’s no word on whether the iPhone 16 Pro will have the same sensor or not.
This is largely possible, but clearly, the lower-end iPhones won’t enjoy the improved bokeh and low-light performance. It would also be reasonable to assume that a stacked image sensor won’t be in those designs. But that’s just speculation here.
As for the basic configuration, Digital Chat Station says that the iPhone 16 will continue the curved screen design introduced with the iPhone 15, and will have the same overall thickness and length as the previous model.
The screen will continue with the dynamic island and of course, the USB-C connector that was introduced last year. And of course, the iPhone 16 Pro Max will likely have the same titanium construction.
Availability
The iPhone 16 announcement is expected at Apple’s annual holiday announcement in the Fall, but there isn’t any word on how much the mobile device will cost.
By comparison, the iPhone 15 has a retail price starting at $799, with the iPhone 15 Pro starting at $999, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max starting at $1199.
[source: MacRumors]
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