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 Roundup: iPhone 15
Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

contacos Avatar
18 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)
SilvioInfante Avatar
18 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)
SilvioInfante Avatar
18 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)
Rychiar Avatar
18 months ago
How useless is a 48mp sensor when it’s small….
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coffeemilktea Avatar
18 months ago
I wonder how this will affect all the pictures I take of my cat? o_O
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Skyscraperfan Avatar
18 months ago
So the cripple a phone on many levels and still ask for $799 or even more?

I recently looked for a new TV and was surprised that TVs despite their size and all those modern features cost much less than smartphones. It seems TVs are getting cheaper while smartphones are getting more expensive. For €749 you already get a 48 inch OLED TV. There are TVs with a screen size over 80 inch for the price of an iPhone 14 Pro.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)