A Photographer’s Guide to the iPhone 16 Pro

The Apple iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models are just a week from being revealed and there is palpable excitement in the air. Many of our photographer friends are already asking: will it be worth it to upgrade to the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro?

While the official specs of the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro will be revealed on September 9th, many camera-related features have already been leaked online. We are here to examine the information that has been shared and determine if it would be a smart move for photographers to move to the new iPhone 16 platform.

We will be looking specifically at the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models as many of the features found on the base iPhone 16 models are also on the higher-end Pro models. The flagship iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max also get some additional benefits in terms of camera features.

The iPhone 16 Pro Camera

The upcoming iPhone 16 Pro will be getting the familiar three-lens camera array with a 13mm ultrawide angle lens, a variable focal length wide lens, and a 120mm telephoto portrait lens. One of the main upgrades to the iPhone 16 Pro is the availability of the 120mm telephoto lens on the Pro model compared to the 77mm lens found on the iPhone 15 Pro. The decision between getting the Pro and Pro Max models, at least for photographers, will come down to the screen size.

One of the most talked about upgrades to the iPhone 16 Pro range is the new 48MP sensor on the ultrawide lens. The new 48MP sensor is a massive jump from the 12MP ultrawide angle sensor on the current iPhone 15 Pro series. The upgrade should be very noticeable when pixel binning is enabled as the camera utilizes the entirety of the 48MP sensor but combines adjunct pixels to produce the final output of just 12MP. The images will be noticeably sharper and with lower levels of noise.

Another cool addition is the dedicated Capture Button on the upcoming iPhone models. This new feature will allow users to half-press to auto-focus similar to how modern cameras work. Pressing the button down longer will enable video recording. The Capture Button will also have a touch surface that allows users to zoom in and out by moving the finger left and right.

Video capabilities on the new iPhone 16 Pro will also get an upgrade. Users will be able to take 3K video footage at 120 frames per second. The iPhone has always been a reliable platform for mobile videography and this increase in performance should be interesting for users looking at mobile content creation.

Hardware and AI updates

AI has been at the center of all the current innovations in new mobile devices and the iPhone is no exception. For photographers, the new AI editing tools in the iPhone 16 Pro will be a huge plus. One of the features that has excited us is the AI object replacement similar to Adobe Photoshop’s content-aware fill. Having the ability to remove unwanted objects in the background will surely enhance any images taken on the iPhone 16.

The new iPhone 16 Pro will also be powered by the new A18 Pro chipset. This powerful new processor will work well with the AI editing features found on the new mobile smartphone. We expect editing within the mobile device to be much more efficient in terms of battery life.

Speaking of battery life, the new models will have bigger batteries. It has been reported that the new iPhone 16 lineup will have at least 10% more battery life than previous models thanks to the new stacked battery design. The battery will also have a new metal casing to increase heat dispersion and reduce battery degradation over time.

The new WiFi 7 connectivity should be a treat for photographers looking to upload content to the web. The new high-speed connectivity feature should provide a faster and more stable connection.

Is upgrading to the iPhone 16 Pro worth it?

The new camera features, AI-powered editing, and increased battery life make upgrading to the iPhone 16 Pro appealing.

The strongest case for upgrading to the new iPhone 16 Pro are the new 48MP ultrawide sensor and 120mm telephoto lens. Having the ability to shoot high-resolution ultrawide photos will always be an attractive proposition for photographers. The ability to pixel bin to enhance image quality and improve low-light performance is also a big plus.

The 120mm telephoto lens introduced in the iPhone 15 Pro Max has been a very solid performer and its availability on the smaller iPhone 16 Pro makes it interesting. The 120mm lens coupled with the new AI features in the upcoming Apple smartphone is also very intriguing. Having personally used the 120mm on the previous model, it will be interesting to see how the new AI enhances the shooting experience and output.

The dedicated Capture Button is something that photographers will be interested in. Having a button that will immediately bring up the camera app, half-press auto-focus, and zoom slider should make photographers very happy.

The AI editing features like object removal should also be something to consider. However, older iPhone models will also inherit the feature, albeit using slower mobile processors.

Lastly, the improved battery life should be something that will interest long-time iPhone users. The limited battery life of previous models prevented owners from maximizing the capabilities of the iPhone. Hopefully, having improved battery longevity along with the new efficient processor will help the new iPhone 16 last an entire day of content creation.

What is our verdict? If you are moving from an iPhone 15 Pro or lower, the new iPhone 16 Pro will be a worthwhile update. All the new camera features, dedicated Capture Button, and AI editing make the upgrade a great choice. If you are also invested in the Apple ecosystem, owning a Macbook or Apple iPad, having the new smartphone makes more sense.

However, if you already have the iPhone 15 Pro Max, forking out cash for a new smartphone wouldn’t be as appealing. As a photographer, the only key features you will miss out on are the new 48MP sensor and Capture Button. It would not be a significant leap over your current smartphone.

For photographers, the new iPhone 16 Pro will be something to watch out for. We will be patiently waiting for the Apple event on September 9 to see what other features the new iPhone 16 Pro brings for photographers and content creators.