The iPhone 15 Pro Max is Apple's most advanced phone to date and there are many reasons why it is one of the best phones in the world right now. Unfortunately, I don't think the camera is one of those reasons.
On paper, compared to the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Apple's flagship looks woefully inadequate. The main cameras of both offer comparable resolutions, but the 14 Ultra has a variable aperture. The resolution of the other three rear cameras of the 14 Ultra is 50 megapixels, while the iPhone stays at 12 MP. The iPhone also lacks a mid-range telephoto.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max's camera system is by no means poor in terms of optics, but it is certainly in danger of falling behind the technological advancements we're seeing from Xiaomi or even the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Are changes coming?
As a result, I'm waiting with bated breath to see what Apple does with its iPhone 16 series of phones, which are likely to launch and launch in September 2024. Considering that an increasing number of professional photographers and videographers are turning to their phones for its work, Apple won't want anyone to abandon ship in search of better quality.
However, I don't think it's too late for Apple. The Cupertino company has a habit of keeping its customers loyal long after the iPhone's features have fallen behind the competition. There's something about Apple's design and ecosystem that keeps people coming back again and again. Despite that, I'd like to see a number of camera improvements on the rumored iPhone 16 Pro.
The changes Apple needs to make
One of the biggest improvements would be to increase the resolution of the iPhone cameras, both front and back. 12MP is fine for family photos, but not ideal for professional work. Increasing all cameras to 48MP would convey a real sense of commitment to Apple's phone photography users.
I'd also love to see the introduction of a true variable aperture. I love this feature on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, as it gives me the ability to more precisely control how much light hits the sensor and how it affects the bokeh. I'm less concerned about Apple increasing the rear cameras on the iPhone Pros from three to four, but if it does pull it off, I certainly wouldn't be opposed to it.
This is a crucial moment for Apple. If it doesn't improve on the iPhone 16 series, then Xiaomi will certainly get even further ahead of the rest, at least in my opinion. Only time will tell if Apple sees camera hardware as vital to development or if other priorities like Apple Intelligence will take center stage when we see the next-generation iPhones, likely at an Apple event in September.
