iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus Could Still Have Smaller Camera Sensor Than Pro Models Despite Upgrade to 48MP - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus Could Still Have Smaller Camera Sensor Than Pro Models Despite Upgrade to 48MP

Apple's iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models could still have a smaller sensor than the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, despite their upgrade to 48-megapixels, according to a new rumor posted on Weibo.

iPhone 15 Cyan and Magenta Frosted Back Feature
The claim comes from "Digital Chat Station," a Weibo user responsible for a range of details about the camera technology of upcoming iPhone models. Firstly, they claim that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will retain the same 1/1.28-inch 48-megapixel sensor as the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Numerous reports from sources including the analysts Jeff Pu and Ming-Chi Kuo say that the two standard iPhone 15 models are set to be upgraded to 48-megapixels just like the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. According to Digital Chat Station, while the non-Pro models will receive the upgrade to 48-megapixels, they will continue to have a smaller stacked CMOS image sensor (CIS) than the Pro models at 1/1.5-inches.

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus feature a 12-megapixel sensor that is 1/1.9-inches in size. This means that the standard iPhone 15 models could gain a 27% larger sensor – a substantial increase, but still not equal to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro models. In May, Digital Chat Station reported that the next iPhone sensor size increase for the Pro models is set to occur in 2024, increasing from 1/1.28-inches to 1/1.14-inches.

A larger image sensor offers improved image quality by capturing more light, leading to greater detail and less noise, especially in low-light conditions. It also provides a wider dynamic range and better color accuracy, resulting in more professional and visually appealing photos.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iPhone Handoff iOS 27 Feature

T-Mobile to Charge $5 a Month for iOS 27 iPhone Handoff

Thursday September 10, 2026 3:58 pm PDT by
T-Mobile will charge customers $5 per month to use iPhone Handoff, an e-SIM feature that allows the same phone number to be used on two separate iPhones. iPhone Handoff requires carrier support, and at launch, only T-Mobile users in the U.S. and Deutsche Telekom users in Germany will be able to use it. T-Mobile says customers can use their number across two compatible iPhone models and...
iphone duo

IMAX Reacts to iPhone Duo's 1:1.4 Aspect Ratio Displays

Friday September 11, 2026 4:42 am PDT by
Production theater company IMAX has responded in a mixed way to Apple's embrace of a 1:1.4 aspect ratio on the iPhone Duo's inner and outer displays. The boxier ratio happens to be very close to the classic "full-frame" IMAX 1.43:1 aspect ratio, which comes from the geometry of the company's original 15-perforation/70mm film system. In response to an X post from someone wondering if we'll see...
iOS 27 Feature Dark

Apple Announces iOS 27 Release Date

Wednesday September 9, 2026 10:46 am PDT by
At its event today unveiling the iPhone 18 Pro, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12, and more, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released later this month. iOS 27 has already been available as a developer beta since June and as a public beta since July, and Apple today said that the update will be released for all users with a compatible iPhone model on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 is...

Top Rated Comments

contacos Avatar
41 months ago
well of course, this device only exists for upselling purposes anyway. If they truly cared about providing the best customer experience available, they would put the best tech currently available in "the" iPhonE (singular)
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
41 months ago

Non pro phones are for the peasants.
I don't know, at $799 and $899 they don't sound like peasant phones. More like they sound like terrible buys that exist only to upsell the Pro models.

I don't see what the point is anymore, honestly. If Apple is only going to put its best foot forward with the Pro phones now, then just get rid of the standard models, and embrace the fact that flaghship iPhone starts at $1000+. And just keep last year's Pro models in the lineup at those price points.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
41 months ago

well of course, this device only exists for upselling purposes anyway. If they truly cared about providing the best customer experience available, they would put the best available tech currently available in "the" iPhonE (singular)
That's exactly what they did while Steve Jobs was alive, and for a few years after. Every year they poured the best they could do for that year into one really great model.

Inevitably though, the greed got to them. Especially with a bean counter as CEO. They'll tell you that the iPhone market is vast and complicated, and needs 20 different iPhones on sale at any time to hit every imaginable price point. In truth, it's all just greed.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rychiar Avatar
41 months ago
How useless is a 48mp sensor when it’s small….
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coffeemilktea Avatar
41 months ago
I wonder how this will affect all the pictures I take of my cat? o_O
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
aespana Avatar
41 months ago
After reading the post of "Tim Cook's latest iphone scam explained", this make sense.

Cutting from all the possible sides
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)