Increased Size of iPhone 16 Pro Models Explained by Major Camera Upgrades, Rumor Suggests

The increased size of next year's iPhone 16 Pro and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max allows for upgrades including a periscope telephoto camera and a 12% larger main camera sensor, according to a new report.

iphone 12 pro sensor shift
The rumor was first shared on Chinese social media site Weibo by a user who says that they have obtained industry insider information. Corroborating several other reports that next year's ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models will feature larger displays, the individual claims that the increased size of the devices will provide more internal space for components including a periscope telephoto camera system. Earlier today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the larger size of the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models could help facilitate improved camera hardware or bigger internal batteries.

While the iPhone 15 Pro Max is expected to introduce the iPhone's first periscope telephoto camera, the feature is expected to be exclusive to Apple's largest ‌iPhone‌ at first. With next year's ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models, Apple is reportedly planning to bring the telephoto camera to both of the "Pro" models. The increased size of the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌, is, therefore, at least partially explained by the need for more internal space to implement the periscope camera on the smaller Pro model.

For the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max or iPhone 16 "Ultra," the additional internal space will apparently allow for a larger main camera sensor that is 1/1.14-inches in size. The ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro Max currently feature a 1/1.28-inch sensor. No sensor size increase is expected for this year's ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max. This claim has since been supported by the Twitter leaker known as "ShrimpApplePro."

A larger sensor could improve the main ‌iPhone‌ camera's dynamic range and background blur. It could also substantially enhance low-light photography capabilities since a bigger surface area can capture more light with the same shutter speed and aperture.

Related Roundups: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro
Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

KaiFiMacFan Avatar
30 months ago
Cool, but I hope the image processing software doesn't ruin the pictures taken by the increasingly-impressive hardware. The hardware doesn't mean much if the software simply overrides anything the hardware captures.
Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
30 months ago
Due to a bigger size, It would be ideal if Under-Display Face-ID debuts with the iPhone 16 Pro lineup.



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Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ikjadoon Avatar
30 months ago
Even larger sensors to be trashed by Apple Airheads that pushed airbrushed, HDR overprocessing ('//www.youtube.com/watch?v=88kd9tVwkH8').

I still haven't forgotten the horrendous way Apple monkeys with skin tones. We all rave about years of software updates, but apparently this is not fixable years later. Until this junk is fixed, I'll sit out iPhone "upgrades".






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Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
phill85 Avatar
30 months ago
Definitely waiting for the 16 Pro
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vegetassj4 Avatar
30 months ago
How much bigger will these phones get?

leaked iPhone 18 w/ full frame sensor and telescoping optical zoom



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Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dz5b609 Avatar
30 months ago

Cool, but I hope the image processing software doesn't ruin the pictures taken by the increasingly-impressive hardware. The hardware doesn't mean much if the software simply overrides anything the hardware captures.
I think you overestimate how good those sensors are by a lot. Even if it would be double the current size it would be a pretty ****** sensor compared to ones in proper camera's with space, you still need a shitton of image processing to make it into something.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)