iPhone 16 camera predictions: Every expected camera on every model
The iPhone 16 line – and specifically the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max – will likely be among the best camera phones. We can predict that, as Apple’s more expensive phones usually do. But thanks to leaks and rumors, we can also predict what the actual camera hardware will be.
Below you’ll find a detailed breakdown of the most likely camera specs for each of the four expected iPhone 16 models.
This is largely based on leaks, with some educated guesses thrown in. So none of these specs have been confirmed yet – and won’t until the iPhone 16 line is announced, likely in September – but they are our best guesses at this point. .
iPhone 16 camera predictions
| iPhone 16 camera specs (rumors) | |
|---|---|
| Main camera: | 48MP, f/1.6, 1/1.56in |
| Ultrawide camera: | 12 MP, f/2.4 (120 degree field of view) |
| Telephoto camera: | N/A |
| Front camera: | 12MP, f/1.9, 1/3.6in |
Unfortunately, we don’t expect any major upgrades to the iPhone 16’s camera. According to a leak, the iPhone 16 will have the same 12MP f/2.4 ultra-wide camera as its predecessor, and again just a dual-lens camera. If it has that ultra-wide camera, you can expect a 120-degree field of view. They also add that it will lack the autofocus and macro mode of Pro models.
Various leaked images also only show a camera with two lenses on the iPhone 16, making it very unlikely that Apple will add a third lens.
As such, there likely won’t be a dedicated telephoto lens, and while we haven’t heard much about the main sensor yet, we predict it will be the same 48MP f/1.6 lens as the iPhone 15, as that was an upgrade last year, and it’s unlikely that Apple will upgrade that camera again.
One change we could see, however, is the lens layout, with leaked images suggesting they will be arranged vertically rather than diagonally on the iPhone 16. It is speculated that this will allow for the recording of spatial videos, which can then be viewed on an Apple. Vision Pro.
As for the front camera, analyst said Ming Chi Kuo (who has a good track record of Apple information) this won’t change, meaning you can probably expect a 12MP f/1.9 snapper just like last year. Since even the iPhone 15 Pro Max only has a selfie camera with those specs, it’s unlikely the iPhone 16 would get an upgrade here.
iPhone 16 Plus camera predictions
| iPhone 16 Plus camera specs (rumors) | |
|---|---|
| Main camera: | 48MP, f/1.6, 1/1.56in |
| Ultrawide camera: | 12 MP, f/2.4 (120 degree field of view) |
| Telecamera: | N/A |
| Front camera: | 12MP, f/1.9, 1/3.6in |
We haven’t heard much specifically about the cameras on the iPhone 16 Plus, but based on past form they’ll likely be identical to those on the standard iPhone 16.
You can read our detailed predictions for that above, but in short it will likely have a dual-lens rear camera with a 48MP f/1.6 main sensor and a 12MP f/2.4 ultra-wide angle (with a 120-degree field of view) . Those are the same specs as the iPhone 15 Plus, and we’ve also heard that it will inherit the same 12MP f/1.9 selfie snapper.
The only rumored change concerns the layout of the lenses, from diagonal to horizontal, which would allow the iPhone 16 Plus to record spatial videos for use on the Apple Vision Pro.
iPhone 16 Pro camera predictions
| iPhone 16 Pro camera specs (rumors) | |
|---|---|
| Main camera: | 48 MP, f/1.8, 1/1.14 inch |
| Ultrawide camera: | 48 MP, 1/2.6 in |
| Telephoto camera: | 12 MP, f/2.8, 1/3.06 inch, 120mm (5x optical zoom) |
| Front camera: | 12MP, f/1.9, 1/3.6in |
While the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus likely won’t receive major camera upgrades, the iPhone 16 Pro could.
The most significant upgrade here could be the addition of a 12MP f/2.8 periscope camera with 5x optical zoom, in place of the iPhone 15 Pro’s 3x telephoto camera. This new sensor would be the one we’ve already seen on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and multiple leaks have indicated that the iPhone 16 Pro will get this periscope camera, so that seems likely.
The other rumored upgrade is to the iPhone 16 Pro’s ultrawide camera, which could be 48MP this year, up from 12MP on the iPhone 15 Pro, and may have a larger 1/2.6-inch sensor.
We’ve also heard that the iPhone 16 Pro could feature a stacked camera design, which could improve low-light performance, although it’s not clear which lens or lenses would benefit from this.
We haven’t heard much about the main camera yet, so for now we’re predicting largely the same as last year – i.e. a 48MP f/1.8 main sensor. But the sensor could at least be slightly larger, from 1/1.28 inch to 1/1.14 inch according to the leaker Digital chat stationalbeit without change in the number of megapixels.
The front-facing camera, meanwhile, will apparently be identical to last year’s, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (in a post linked above).
iPhone 16 Pro Max camera predictions
| iPhone 16 Pro Max camera specs (rumors) | |
|---|---|
| Main camera: | 48 MP, f/1.8, 1/1.14 inch |
| Ultrawide camera: | 48 MP, 1/2.6 in |
| Telephoto camera: | 300mm super telephoto |
| Front camera: | 12MP, f/1.9, 1/3.6in |
As impressive as the iPhone 16 Pro’s camera upgrades sound, the iPhone 16 Pro Max could beat it, as some sources have mentioned the possibility of a ‘super-telephoto’ camera for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which will have a focal length of 300 mm or more. For comparison, the 5x optical zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is just 120mm.
We’d take this leak with a grain of salt, though, as we haven’t heard much about it in a while, and there was some debate over whether this upgrade was planned for the iPhone 16 Pro Max or the rumored iPhone Ultra.
If the iPhone 16 Pro Max doesn’t get this telephoto upgrade, chances are it will stick with its predecessor’s 12 MP, f/2.8, 5x zoom camera.
We also expect the other cameras to match the iPhone 16 Pro, which based on leaks (which you can read more about above) could mean a 48MP ultrawide camera (up from 12MP on the iPhone 15 Pro Max) , and improved low-light performance for some or all lenses.
However, aside from possibly better low-light performance and a larger sensor size for the main camera, we don’t currently expect any significant upgrades to the main or front cameras, which would mean the return of a 48MP f/1.8 main sensor. and a 12MP f/1.9 selfie camera.