One of the reasons why the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro are great devices is of course the collection of different cameras. The time when we walked around with a classic photo camera around our neck is long gone. Not only has the camera itself been renewed, thanks to artificial intelligence, Apple has also improved the software for the camera system.
All new models take breathtaking photos and videos. But if you really want to bring out the professional photographer in you, the Pro model is for you. It has an advanced pro camera system with tetraprism telephoto lens.
Renewed camera system
The iPhone 16 (Plus) still uses a dual-camera system that is now placed vertically instead of diagonally. Both lenses have been renewed and offer additional possibilities. The new ultra-wide-angle camera is good for sharp and detailed macro photos and videos. In addition, you can put much more in your photos without taking a step back. And because the camera has a larger aperture and larger pixels, it captures 2.6x more light. This way you get better photos, even in low light.
The standard 48-megapixel Fusion wide-angle lens features a quad-pixel sensor and 100% focus pixels. This lens allows for 2x optical zoom without loss of quality. It also uses second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization.
The advanced camera systems on iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max have been completely redesigned, including a 48MP Fusion main camera with second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization. In addition to 48MP ProRAW, the main camera supports JPEG-XL and 48MP HEIF images, at four times the resolution.
The new 48MP ultra-wide camera also has a quad-pixel sensor with autofocus, allowing users to shoot higher-resolution 48MP ProRAW and HEIF images. This not only allows you to capture 48MP wider-angle shots, but also get up close to your subject with macro photography or macro videos.
The new telephoto camera introduced in iPhone 15 Pro Max last year, now found on both iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, features an innovative tetraprism design with combined optical image stabilization and 3D sensor-shift module autofocus. This enables the longest optical zoom ever on an iPhone: 5x at 120mm.
Differences between iPhone 16 (Plus) and iPhone 16 Pro (Max) cameras
Camera iPhone 16 (Plus)
- Advanced dual camera system with sapphire crystal lens surface
- Anti-reflective coating for Fusion main camera only
- 48‑MP Fusion wide-angle: 26 mm, ƒ/1.6 aperture, sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super high-resolution photos (24 MP and 48 MP)
- 12MP ultra-wide angle: 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture and 120° angle of view, 100% Focus Pixels
- 12MP 2x telephoto lens (enabled by quad-pixel sensor): 52mm, ƒ/1.6 aperture, sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels
- 2x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 4x optical zoom
- Up to 10x digital zoom when taking photos
- Up to 6x digital zoom on video
- Camera controller
Camera iPhone 16 Pro (Max)
- Pro camera system with sapphire crystal lens surface
- Anti-reflective coating on all lenses
- 48MP Fusion main camera: 24mm, ƒ/1.78 aperture, second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)
- 48MP ultra-wide angle: 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture and 120° angle of view, Hybrid Focus Pixels, super-high-resolution photos (48MP)
- 12MP 5x telephoto lens: 120 mm, ƒ/2.8 aperture and 20° angle of view, 100% Focus Pixels, seven-element lens, sensor-shift 3D optical image stabilization with autofocus, tetraprism
- 12MP 2x telephoto lens (enabled by the Fusion camera’s quad-pixel sensor): 52mm, ƒ/1.6 aperture, second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels
- 5x optical zoom in, 2x optical zoom out; 10x optical zoom
- Up to 25x digital zoom
- Up to 25x digital zoom on video
- Camera controller
Camera system in detail
The camera system of the iPhone 16 (Plus) iPhone 16 Pro (Max) is very extensive with new lenses and techniques. Below we give an explanation with regard to the new lenses and camera controller.
Pressure sensitive camera control
New is the Camera control button, camera control in Dutch, which can be found on the right side below the side button on all iPhone 16 models. This smart button can be used while taking photos and videos. This is a pressure-sensitive button that can even be operated with swipe gestures. By lightly pressing the button, the user can, for example, lock the focus or exposure, just like with a DSLR camera.
By pressing the button all the way down, the photo can be taken. You could also zoom in and out by swiping left or right over the button, or adjust the portrait mode, etc. If you press the button for a long time, you can take a video.
When the camera app is not open, the button also ensures that you can open the Camera app from any situation, so you can capture all your favorite moments immediately. In addition, other apps can also fully utilize the camera control button.
Anti-reflective coating
Apple has applied an anti-reflective coating to all camera lenses on iPhone 16 Pro (Max) and the Fusion camera on iPhone 16 (Plus) to reduce unwanted glare. Also known as lens flare, this is an optical effect that occurs when bright light, such as from the sun, shines directly into the lens of a camera. This causes unwanted flare or ghosting that can be seen in your photo. Apple aims to reduce this effect with lens coating technology.
Software gives camera more possibilities
A18 and A18 Pro are the fastest chips Apple has made and can perform trillions of operations in the Neural Engine. This allows the iPhone 16 (Pro) to also greatly improve the camera in software.
Photographic styles of the latest generation
Available on iPhone 16 (Plus) and iPhone 16 Pro (Max)
Since the iPhone 13 (Pro) and iPhone SE 3rd generation, users can personalize every photo with photographic styles, while also continuing to benefit from Apple’s multi-touch image editing. The styles are like filters, but much smarter.
A filter normally edits the entire photo, this affects everything that can be seen in the photo. Photographic styles go a step further. The styles are smart enough to make the right adjustments to different parts of the photo. This way you can be sure that all elements, including skin tones, come into their own.
Next-generation Photographic Styles help users express their creativity and customize their photos by locally adjusting color, highlights, and shadows in real time. Styles also have a deeper understanding of skin undertones, allowing users to personalize how they appear in photos.
A wider set of styles offers more creative options for editing a photo’s aesthetic, and styles can be further personalized with a new control panel and intensity slider for simultaneous adjustments between tone and color. These adjustments can be viewed live in the Camera app, applied for the first time after a photo is taken, or even reversed later.
Audio mix for videos
Available on iPhone 16 (Plus) and iPhone 16 Pro (Max)
Thanks to advanced intelligence and spatial audio recording, Audiomix lets you adjust the voices in videos using three different voice profiles. Do you want less background noise, or do you want the voices to be heard better? After filming, choose your favorite mix and adjust the intensity for the right sound.
- In frame: Records only the voices of the people on screen, even if there is conversation off screen.
- Studio: Make voices sound like you’re in a professional recording studio with soundproof walls. Ideal for your vlog or podcast. It sounds like everyone is talking directly into the microphone, even when they’re not.
- Film: Captures all the voices around you and brings them together at the front of the screen. This technique is also used for feature films.
4K Dolby Vision at 120 fps
Available on iPhone 16 Pro (Max)
With the iPhone 16 Pro (Max) you can make spectacular recordings and slow-motion videos in 4K Dolby Vision at 120 fpsThis is made possible by the new wide-angle 48MP Fusion camera with second-generation quad-pixel sensor and the powerful A18 Pro chip.
In the new Photos app you can adjust the playback speed afterwards. This gives you even more creative freedom during editing.
The audio performance for videos are greatly improved with four studio-quality microphones for crystal-clear recording. Thanks to a lower noise floor, sounds are even more realistic. And wind noise reduction further improves the sound quality.
iPhone 16 (Pro) camera: conclusion
Both the iPhone 16 (Plus) and iPhone 16 Pro (Max) feature a new camera system. On the iPhone 16 (Plus), the overall improvement of the cameras is the most important addition with new options such as macro photography. If you really want to get the most out of the camera system, the iPhone 16 Pro (Max) is the best choice with a completely renewed camera system with two 48 megapixel lenses and 5x optical zoom.
The main innovations are in the software with the latest generation of photographic styles, audio mixing for videos and spectacular images in 4K Dolby Vision with 120 fps. The camera controller is also a plus button.
It is good to realize that most of the innovations are only for professionals. Especially users who use their iPhone to make high-quality videos will be happy with the innovations in the camera system of the iPhone 16 Pro (Max). For the ‘regular’ consumer, the improvements in low light and photographic styles are a nice plus, but the cameras of the iPhone 15 (Pro) perform just as well.