iPhone 16 camera: PhoneArena Camera Score and all new features explained
Apple's latest iPhone 16 series bring quite a few changes to the camera system, especially for the Pro models.
But what are the actual improvements and should you upgrade for all the new camera features?
We have now finished our thorough testing process and the iPhone 16 PhoneArena Camera Score is out, but before you see the scores (right below), let's see what is actually new.
The bigger camera changes this year come to the Pro models. Both the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max get a new 48MP ultrawide camera, an upgrade from the 12MP camera used for years (the regular 16 and the 16 Plus still use it). This follows the successful implementation of a 48MP main camera in the previous generation, delivering exceptional image quality.
The smaller iPhone 16 Pro also gets a new 5X zoom telephoto camera, a change from the 3X zoom it had earlier.
The smaller iPhone 16 Pro also gets a new 5X zoom telephoto camera, a change from the 3X zoom it had earlier.
| Specs | iPhone 16 Pro Max / iPhone 16 Pro |
|---|---|
| Main camera | 48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS |
| Ultrawide camera | 48 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 0.7µm, PDAF, macro mode |
| Telephoto camera | 12 MP, f/2.8, 120mm, 1/3.06", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3D sensor‑shift OIS, 5x optical zoom |
| Front camera | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm, 1/3.6", PDAF, OIS |
For video enthusiasts, the Pro models offer a first-of-its-kind 4K 120fps video recording capability for crispy slow motion, as well as a new JPEG-XL format for your RAW files that takes up way less space.
The list of changes coming to the regular iPhone 16 and the 16 Plus is not all the big, as they retain the same dual camera system as the models from last year. That's a 48MP main camera and a 12MP ultra-wide snapper, with the latter now supporting macro photos. The cameras are also arranged vertically now, which allows them to capture Spatial Photos and Videos.
All four iPhone 16 models get new and more comprehensive Photographic Modes that mimic current and prior editing trends on social media, and all get the new Audio Mix feature in video.
PhoneArena iPhone 16 Pro Camera Score
iPhone 16 Pro Max/iPhone 16 Pro camera score spider chart
On the PhoneArena Camera Score, the iPhone 16 Pro ranks very similarly to previous models. And that is kind of expected: Apple is not changing much in the processing, so photos and videos from the iPhone 16 Pro look mostly the same as the 15 Pro.
There are some tiny differences in exposure and tonality, but nothing major. And for detail, we don't see big changes either, unless you decide to use the full resolution capture where the 16 Pro series offer that 48MP ultra-wide camera.
Main camera
Decent sharpness and image quality, mostly consistent with previous top iPhones, with a vibrant and slightly warmer tone by default. Dynamics are handled well and colors are, typically, accurate. We like how the iPhones handle greenery and foliage, which are usually slightly skewed on other phones.
The 48MP main camera on the new Pro models also comes with a second-gen quad-pixel sensor that eliminates shutter lag (time between tapping the shutter button and the photo getting snapped) while shooting 48MP images. This is true both when you are shooting at the more storage-efficient HEIF format, and when shooting in Apple ProRAW.
Zoom Quality
5X
At the native 5X zoom level, the image quality is excellent. Decent sharpness, clear detail, consistent dynamics and colors that match with the main camera. Noticeable here is the lack of the artificial oversharpening that has been added to the main 48MP camera.
10X
The 10X zoom is arguably the furthest you can zoom and still get usable photos (anything past that isn't particularly well-detailed, and longer zoom even deliver watercolor paintings).
Ultra-wide Camera
The new ultrawide camera uses a 48MP sensor which uses quad-pixel binning and once again outputs 12MP images by default. Color and dynamics are consistent with the main camera. Quality isn't drastically better than before, but we get better dynamics at lower light courtesy of the pixel-binning.
You can opt to use the full 48MP resolution of the camera to take high-resolution shots in HEIF and Apple ProRAW too. Unfortunately you do not have the convenient in-between 24MP option that you get on the main camera.
Front Camera
The 12MP selfie camera of the iPhone 16 Pro Max/iPhone 16 Pro takes splendid photos. They are not particularly sharp, but more than a decent amount of detail, a good dynamic range, and, most importantly, good skin tones.
Main Camera - Video
In video, the main camera delivers excellent quality, as is a tradition for iPhones. The colors and details are both lovely. The dynamics are good, but the previous generation was superior in delivering decent highlights and shadows. Stabilization is magnificent, but there's also some oversharpening present.
Zoom Quality - Video
Videos taken with the iPhone zoom camera deliver a pretty decent amount of detail and colors.
Ultrawide Quality - Video
Excellent quality and good dynamics is what you get when you switch to the ultrawide during video recording.
Front camera - Video
Selfie video with the iPhone 16 Pro Max is superb, with tons of detail, dynamics, and lovely skin tones that bring out the best of our subjects.
iPhone 16 Pro Camera Score compared to its rivals
How does the new camera test score of the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the iPhone 16 Pro fare against its rivals and predecessors?
It doesn't really look too great for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which ranks below the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but still manages to outperform the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
In our video test, however, the older iPhone 15 Pro Max fares slightly better in comparison with the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The reason for that stems to the superior and better-processed videos taken with the iPhone 15 Pro Max. In comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro Max delivers slightly inferior dynamics and doesn't expose the subject you shoot as well as the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
But generally, the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the iPhone 15 Pro Max perform mostly the same, with the more significant differences in favor of the newer phone being the faster image-processing, the Camera Control button, and the new Photographic Styles that allow you to personalize the tone and contrast of your photos.
Compared to rivals, the Galaxy S24 Ultra scores higher thanks to stronger performance with the zoom camera. The Galaxy has a 3X zoom lens, which covers the shorter zoom range, while the iPhone only has a 5X zoom lens. Overall, zoom quality on the Galaxy ranks higher. It also scores nearly perfectly for portrait mode photo cutouts, while the iPhone still has a bit of trouble occasionally.
PhoneArena iPhone 16 Camera Score
When it comes to the vanilla and Plus models, they rank the same as the previous edition. That tiny addition of macro functionality does not alter the total score in a major way.
The big upgrade for the vanilla iPhones clearly happened a couple of years ago, and you can see that well reflected in our camera scores.
As for rivals, they do get higher scores. In the same compact form factor, the Galaxy S24 has a dedicated telephoto camera which elevates its ranking higher. It's not a huge difference but noticeable nonetheless.
iPhone 16 new camera features
Photographic Styles on steroids
Apple has introduced new Photographic Styles that are much more customizable and stylistic. These affect images in a more comprehensive and smart way, adjusting to each individual image.
What's more, each style can be adjusted via a single control pad. While this is rather restrictive in terms of what you can affect, it does serve as a quick an easy way to play around with each style and get the desired effect.
Users can now also change the style of a photo after you have already taken it, which is something that wasn't available with the iPhone 15 series. You can even see the style apply during live preview in the camera app. This only works with the HEIF default format, though, but not JPEG.
4K 120fps video
Users can now record video at 4K 120fps in Dolby Vision HDR. With the assistance of an external storage device, you can even record 4K 120fps video in Apple ProRes and LOG.
For comparison, last year's iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max (as well as the models before them) were capable of 1080P at 120fps.
Apple has made the 4K 120fps an option both in regular video recording, and Slow Motion. What makes this upgrade even better is that you don't have to choose your frame rate prior to hitting the record button. Users can now adjust the frame rate of videos after they have been captured in the new photos app.
The percentages and frame rates at which you can slow down a 120fps video with the iPhone 16 Pro are as follows:
- 50% / 60fps
- 25% / 30fps
- 20% / 24fps
New microphones for better audio during video recordings
Apple has added what it calls "studio-quality" mics to the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, which allow higher audio quality when recording vocals and acoustics. They even help recording Spatial Audio, which can be listened to via AirPods that support that feature.
New Audio Mix feature
A new Audio Mix feature is available on all four new iPhone 16 models. With it, you have precise control over the sound in the frame and you can pick one of four settings:
- Default – Typical sound recording with lots of background noise that mixes in with your voice when you speak
- In-frame – Focuses on sounds that are coming directly in front of the visual field of view of the camera (or what's in the frame)
- Studio mix – Eliminates reverb and makes the sound more clear, perfect if you are recording a video in your room and you want to get rid of echo
- Cinematic mix – Environmental noises in the surroundings stay in the video, but vocals are pushed to the front for better speech clarity
Camera Control button
It's placed belowe the power key on the right. That's a decent position for use in both vertical and horizontal orientation, but it's not quite perfect for either one.
Camera Control acts like a regular button that you can press, but it also reacts to touch and pressure, so you can tap and swipe on it. It also has a tiny vibration motor that gives you cues for each press. Oh, and it is protected by sapphire crystal so it would scratch easily.
A double tap on the Camera Control open a tiny menu where you can do the following:
- Adjust zoom
- Change cameras
- Adjusting aperture (depth of field)
- Change Photographic Styles
- Change Tone
With an update coming later during the year, you are also expected to get a half-press functionality to lock focus/exposure.
Macro photography finally comes to the non-Pro iPhones
Arguably the most exciting thing about the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus is that they now support Macro Mode, just like Pro models have since the iPhone 13 Pro.
Slightly improved ultra-wide camera on regular iPhone 16
The ultra-wide camera on the non-Pro iPhone 16 models comes with a new slightly faster lens with f/2.2 aperture vs. the f/2.4 aperture of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus.
Besides the wider aperture, the pixel size has also increased from 1.0µm to 2.0µm, allowing for more light to enter through (up to 2.6x more light). This results in better images in darker environments. It also means that there will be slightly more bokeh (or blurred out background and foreground). Additionally, now the ultra wide camera has autofocus.
How many cameras does the iPhone 16 have?
The number of cameras on the iPhone 16 series is the same as with the iPhone 15 lineup. That means you get a triple camera system on the Pro models including the main, ultra-wide, and telephoto cameras. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus come with one camera less, rocking just the main and an ultra-wide snappers at the back.
Of course, all four iPhone 16 models will also come with front-facing cameras embedded in the display.
How many megapixels do the iPhone 16 cameras have?
iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max camera megapixels:
- Main (wide-angle): 48 MP
- Ultrawide: 48 MP
- Telephoto: 12MP
- Front: 12 MP
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus camera megapixels:
- Main (wide-angle): 48 MP
- Ultrawide: 12 MP
- Front: 12 MP
iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max camera specs:
- Main (wide) camera — 48 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS
- Ultrawide camera—48 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 0.7µm, PDAF
- Telephoto camera—12 MP, f/2.8, 120mm, 1/3.06", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF, 3D sensor‑shift OIS, 5x optical zoom
- Front camera—12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm, 1/3.6", PDAF, OIS
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus camera specs:
- Main (wide) camera — 48 MP, f/1.6, 26mm, 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS
- Ultrawide camera—12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚, 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF
- Front camera—12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm, 1/3.6", PDAF
Most notable from the specs above is the new 48MP ultra-wide camera on the Pro models. A bit less noticeable is the AF and slightly different specs for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus ultra wide cameras, which make them more sensitive to light.
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