iPhone 16 Pro Models Rumored to Support 4K/120 FPS Video Recording, 8K Video Allegedly Tested

The upcoming iPhone 16 Pro models will be able to record 4K video at up to 120 FPS, according to "reliable sources" cited in a 9to5Mac report today. For comparison, all four iPhone 15 models are capable of 4K video recording at up to 60 FPS.

iPhone 16 Cameras Feature 1
The report adds that Apple has allegedly tested 8K video recording on the iPhone 16 Pro models, but it is unclear if this capability will be enabled. Since an 8K image is around 33 megapixels, the rumored 48-megapixel Main and Ultra Wide cameras on the iPhone 16 Pro models would be capable of 8K video recording, but the 12-megapixel Telephoto camera would not be. With the iPhone 17 Pro Max rumored to gain a 48-megapixel Telephoto camera next year, the report said 8K video recording might debut on that device instead.

In addition, the report said the iPhone's built-in Camera app will finally allow you to pause and resume a singular video recording.

Many other details mentioned in the report have already been rumored by other sources, including support for a new JPEG-XL image format, the Capture/Camera button supporting third-party apps, and both iPhone 16 Pro models supporting the 5x optical zoom functionality that debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro Max last year.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 16 series during its special event on Monday.

Related Roundup: iPhone 16 Pro
Tag: 9to5Mac

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Top Rated Comments

coffeemilktea Avatar
9 months ago
I'm going to take so many videos of the neighborhood cats at glorious 4K 120fps... never mind that most people's displays can't keep up. ?

(I think 8K isn't quite... there... yet, as far as phones' ability to film video are concerned. For that matter, I don't know many people with 8K displays to begin with...?)
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
otozuz Avatar
9 months ago
I remember a time when I was looking for a camera that could decently record 1080 at 120fps. Crazy to think of 4K at 120 fps in a phone form factor.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MayaUser Avatar
9 months ago
Thats impressive , thanks to the new A18 pro SoC
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
blairo32 Avatar
9 months ago
I know it's a novel feature that alot might not use. But I would love to get better slow motion capture too. Just fun to play around with every now and then.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Cloudyskies22 Avatar
9 months ago
This would be awesome. 8K is actually far better than you think. It’s not about having an 8K display, those are almost useless, it’s about the data captured. With an 8K capture you get numerous potential benefits with only increased storage as a negative, this is via chatGPT, but I knew of several of these before asking:

1. **Higher Detail**: 8K captures four times the resolution of 4K, so when downscaled to 4K, the video retains much more detail, offering sharper images and better clarity.

2. **Improved Cropping & Reframing**: With 8K footage, you can crop or reframe parts of the video in post-production without losing significant detail, giving greater flexibility in editing while still maintaining a 4K resolution.

3. **Better Stabilization**: The extra resolution allows for more effective digital stabilization. You can adjust the framing to compensate for shaky footage without a noticeable loss in quality.

4. **Enhanced Zooming**: If you zoom into an 8K video when playing it back on a 4K screen, it will still look sharp and detailed compared to zooming in on 4K video, which would lose quality more quickly.

5. **Better Color Information**: 8K video often comes with increased dynamic range and richer color data, resulting in a more vibrant and lifelike image, even when downscaled to 4K.

6. **Enhanced Compression Efficiency**: Recording in 8K and compressing to 4K can result in more efficient video compression, maintaining higher quality at lower file sizes when exported in 4K.


One of the big things to me is the retention of much greater detail when downscaled. So if you watched the 8K video on your TV at home I believe it would look dramatically better than a 4K iPhone video on your TV or iPad. 8K would be nuts. Obviously this iPhone will start with only 8K 30FPS, but future iPhones will hit 60FPS and eventually 120FPS of course.

Right now when you use stabilization it crops in to compensate for some camera shakiness. Obviously if shooting in 8K it can crop in and you’d get above 4K rather than the current, below 4K stabilized image. Also, like taking a 2X zoomed picture thanks to the 48MP sensors today, you’d be able to zoom in when recording to 2X and maintain the 4K video quality.

Also, for the new 48MP ultra wide sensor, I believe due to it being 48MP, they may be able to reduce the fisheye effect more, cropping the end edges some which are the most effected, and maybe use more processing on the image since it has more detail to combat it further still.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jayducharme Avatar
9 months ago
I wonder how many people would record in 8k on their iPhone? I would think "pros" would use a Red or other industry standard camera for that purpose. I already struggle with the massive file sizes of 4k recording on my iPhone. 8k would be pointless with a base 128 gb storage option.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)