Apple recently announced its latest flagship phones, the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro. Both phones have had some notable upgrades to their cameras, especially the ultra-wide-angle lens, which received a significant boost in resolution. However, recent comparisons demonstrate how little detail the cameras actually produce.
In a recent video from Tony & Chelsea Northrup, Tony Northrup discusses the camera technology in the Apple iPhone 15 and 16 models. The video goes into detail about how Apple may not be completely transparent about its smartphone camera. More specifically, Northrup takes aim at the resolution of the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models.
Apple states that the main camera on the Pro model, along with the ultra-wide-angle lens, can shoot images up to 48 megapixels in resolution. However, when Northrup tested the actual detail produced by the iPhone camera, it seems to only resolve a mere 6 megapixels.
This is, of course, disappointing, considering the marketing and bold claims from Apple, especially due to the comparisons being made with "proper" cameras. Additionally, even the way the focal lengths and apertures are being described are somewhat misleading because they only phone manufacturers only provide equivalents for the focal length and not the aperture.
While more testing may be required with subjects like these, Northrup certainly raises some interesting points that deserve a deeper dive.
Check out the full video linked above to see how the iPhone actually performs.