I really like the iPhone 16 Professional, however Apple’s cameras are growing older subsequent to Android

I am snug switching between iOS and Android. I personal a OnePlus 9 5G, and I’ve used different Android gadgets. My every day driver is an iPhone. Just lately, I purchased an iPhone 16 Professional and a refurbished Apple Watch Extremely 2. I’d have picked up a Google Pixel 9 Professional if I might use an Apple Watch with out an iPhone. I thought of the Pixel as a result of it seems like Apple is holding again its digital camera expertise. You possibly can take nice images with an iPhone 16 Professional, however I feel I might do higher work on the opposite facet of the fence.

Uncooked digital camera specs aren’t every little thing, however they’re one thing

A matter of flexibility

The iPhone 16 Professional is not a slouch. It has a 48-megapixel principal (wide-angle) digital camera, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide, and a 5x telephoto, roughly equal to a 120mm DSLR lens. Nonetheless, the telephoto is capped at 12 megapixels, not like the 48-megapixel telephoto on the Google Pixel 9 Professional or the 50-megapixel one on the OnePlus 13. Realistically, you may’t protect sharp particulars if you crop the images you’re taking with it. The iPhone 16 Professional’s “digital” zoom previous the 5x mark is a blurry mess.

Even Apple’s principal cameras are beginning to really feel weak, contemplating that the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely has a 200-megapixel digital camera. That is greater than anybody wants in 2024, and Samsung’s shutter tech leaves one thing to be desired. Nonetheless, a trillion-dollar firm like Apple ought to have the ability to ship a 50- or 100-megapixel sensor that smashes the competitors.

Weak zoom can imply failing to seize vital recollections.

Historically, Apple centered on the standard of its sensors and processing slightly than uncooked megapixel depend. But, at a sure level, the pixel depend issues. It determines how effectively you may resize and reshape images. I come from a marriage pictures background and sometimes crop images to spotlight the bride, groom, and household whereas eradicating undesirable distractions. I feel smartphone house owners are coming to count on the identical flexibility.

I additionally really feel like Apple could possibly be doing higher on zoom lengths. A 5x zoom is respectable and the norm on high-end smartphones. Nonetheless, some Android fashions have been able to 10x zoom for a very long time. In professional pictures work, a 120mm lens is one thing I would use for short-range portraits. I would like one thing I can even use to {photograph} surroundings, wildlife, or live shows. Weak zoom can imply failing to seize vital recollections.

Good images present highs and lows in colours and shadows

Tone down the processing, please

To Apple’s credit score, you are able to do plenty of on-device work to make an iPhone 16’s images pop. Along with enhancing choices, its Tone and Photographic Types options have been in iOS for a number of years. Earlier than any tweaking, I favor the processing on Google Pixel telephones, as do most individuals, primarily based on MKBHD‘s checks. Apple’s default look will be bland, lowering shadows and saturation to make every little thing clear. Within the picture gallery above, the center one was shot on my iPhone utilizing comparatively impartial settings. Every part else was taken with an Android system.

Shadows add curiosity to images. They set a temper, outline contours, and add thriller. The identical qualities usually apply to colours. In each instances, lowering them affected curiosity and felt synthetic, given how vivid the scenes appeared in particular person.

Shadows add curiosity to images. They set a temper, outline contours, and add thriller.

I bear in mind seeing a idea that Apple’s confusion about enhancing processing may be why it launched Tone and Photographic Types. I do not know if that is true, however warning bells must be going off in Cupertino when it is a rising development for apps like Halide to cut back or eradicate an iPhone’s default processing. I really feel like even Samsung regularly delivers extra thrilling images with out person adjustments.

What may be in charge for Apple’s stagnation in digital camera tech?

A view from the ballpark

I do not need to be too harsh on Apple since I like my iPhone 16 Professional. After getting issues dialed in, its images are glorious. Nonetheless, I sense Apple does not know easy methods to protect colours and shadows with out shedding element, and its digital camera tech is hampered by a well-recognized administration concern: revenue margins. Apple executives are infamous for preserving margins, which is why some iPhone parts stay unchanged for years. Apple hasn’t modified the lens parts on the iPhone 16 lineup to repair flares in nighttime images and movies, despite the fact that that downside surfaced with the iPhone 13 in 2021.

Apple should do higher with the iPhone 17 to maintain bragging rights.

The Android panorama is numerous and generally slap-dash. Many telephones with the OS are worse at pictures than iPhones. The elevated competitors amongst Android cellphone makers appears to end in extra bold digital camera tech on the excessive finish. Apple should do higher with the iPhone 17 to maintain bragging rights.

What concerning the iPhone 17, anyway?

Rumors level to the iPhone 17 Professional Max getting a 48-megapixel telephoto digital camera and a number of fashions getting a mechanical aperture for controlling gentle and depth-of-field. I count on extra adjustments, however we’ll have to attend to verify something for the reason that subsequent main iPhone occasion is due in fall 2025. Between then and now, I am going to wager that Android cameras will elevate the stakes larger nonetheless.