Apple iPhone 16 Pro Major Upgrade Is Just the Beginning, Report Claims

This year’s iPhone 16 Pro is set to become the first of Apple’s smaller smartphones to receive a powerful 5x telephoto camera, akin to the one featured in this year’s iPhone 15 Pro Max. However, a new report indicates that significantly more extensive camera upgrades are on the horizon for future iPhone flagships, beginning with next year’s iPhone 17 lineup.

iPhone 16 Pro—Pro Max-level Zoom Camera

Currently, fans of smaller iPhones miss out on Apple’s most advanced zoom camera, but this could change with the iPhone 16 Pro. According to respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple plans to equip the iPhone 16 Pro with a 5x tetraprism telephoto lens, similar to the one in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Kuo’s report also details even more impressive zoom capabilities slated for future iPhone generations, mapping advancements as far ahead as the 2027 iPhone 19 series.

Kuo notes that differences between the Pro and Pro Max cameras may reemerge as new camera technologies are introduced, potentially debuting first in the larger Pro Max models.

iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro—Big Zoom Camera Quality Upgrade

Starting with the iPhone 17 Pro, Apple’s flagship is predicted to gain a new 48-megapixel tetraprism-based camera featuring a larger 1/2.6-inch sensor, up from the 1/3.1-inch sensor in the iPhone 16 Pro series. Newly designed prisms with a shorter form factor are also expected to reduce camera thickness.

This larger sensor size should enhance the camera’s light-gathering capability by around 40%, reducing graininess and improving low-light performance. Additionally, the upgrade from 12 to 48 megapixels will significantly boost detail and digital zoom capabilities. A 48-megapixel sensor would also enable Apple to offer 8K video recording at 5x optical zoom, a feature already available on Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra.

It’s not yet confirmed whether the new 48-megapixel tetraprism camera will appear in both iPhone 17 Pro models or only in the larger iPhone 17 Pro Max. However, Kuo expects the camera to be included in both the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in 2026.

iPhone 19 Pro—New Prisms, Longer Zoom Range

Starting with the 2027 iPhone 19 Pro series, Kuo anticipates an even greater leap in camera performance, driven by increased optical zoom capabilities. The report speculates that achieving a longer optical zoom range might necessitate new, more complex prism geometries that reflect light multiple times internally. While more complex optics can introduce quality issues such as distortions and reduced light transmission, Apple will need to carefully address these challenges.

Improved long-range zoom performance would allow Apple to effectively compete with Samsung, which recently reduced its maximum optical telephoto from 10x to 5x in the Galaxy S24 Ultra. According to Dxomark, the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s long-range zoom already outperforms the Samsung flagship in low-light conditions.

This situation is currently reversed in well-lit scenes, but if Apple were to extend beyond 5x optical zoom, the iPhone could take the lead in one of Samsung’s historically strong performance areas.

Conclusion

Apple’s upcoming iPhone 16 Pro marks the beginning of a series of major camera upgrades that will continue to enhance the flagship iPhone models over the next several years. With anticipated advancements in optical zoom and sensor technology, Apple aims to solidify its position as a leader in smartphone photography.