Everything You Need to Know About the iPhone 15 Camera Specifications

Tuesday September 5, 2023 12:38 pm PDT by Marko Zivkovic

With every iPhone iteration, Apple adds new functionality to the camera system, and the iPhone 15 series is no exception. MacRumors has obtained detailed information about the camera systems of the iPhone 15 lineup, from the standard iPhone 15 with upgraded 48-megapixel camera to the iPhone 15 Pro Max with its new periscope telephoto lens.

iPhone 15 Blue Three Quarters Perspective Camera Closeup Feature 2

iPhone 15 and 15 Plus

Main Camera: 48-megapixel image sensor, ƒ/1.6 aperture
Ultra Wide Camera: 12-megapixel image sensor, ƒ/2.4 aperture

The base iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models are expected to feature an all-new 48-megapixel Sony image sensor, which is a substantial upgrade from the 12-megapixel Main camera on the iPhone 14. The increase in megapixels will allow for higher resolution images with improved detail. It's worth noting that this claim has been made repeatedly by a variety of sources – including industry analysts Jeff Pu and Ming-Chi Kuo, along with Weibo user "Digital Chat Station."

The iPhone 15 is not expected to use the Sony IMX-803 image sensor from the iPhone 14 Pro, and will instead use a different Sony sensor with improved capabilities.

There is evidence that Apple tested different configurations of the base model iPhone 15, one of which featured the rumored stacked camera sensor system, while the other did not. It is currently unclear whether or not the stacked sensor system is present on the final units. Stacked camera sensors allow for faster readout speeds and improved low-light imaging.

No significant upgrades are expected for the Ultra Wide camera, which is expected to continue to have a 12-megapixel resolution and an ƒ/2.4 aperture.

iPhone 15 Pro

Main Camera: 48 megapixels, Sony IMX-803 image sensor, ƒ/1.78 aperture
Telephoto Camera: 12.7 megapixels, ƒ/2.8 aperture
Ultra Wide Camera: 13.4 megapixels, ƒ/2.2 aperture

As far as the iPhone 15 Pro is concerned, improvements focus mainly on the Telephoto and Ultra Wide cameras, with the Main camera still using the same Sony IMX-803 image sensor found in the iPhone 14 Pro. This information contradicts previous rumors suggesting that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max would use the Sony IMX-903 image sensor. Both the Ultra Wide and Telephoto cameras will receive upgrades compared to the iPhone 14 Pro's 12-megapixel cameras, allowing for improved image quality and higher resolution photos.

iPhone 15 Pro Max

Main Camera: 48 megapixels, Sony IMX-803 image sensor, ƒ/1.78 aperture
Telephoto Camera: 12.7 megapixels, ƒ/2.8 aperture, periscope lens
Ultra Wide Camera: 13.4 megapixels, ƒ/2.2 aperture

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the most interesting in the lineup by far. MacRumors has confirmed with industry sources that the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be equipped with an entirely new periscope lens system for the Telephoto camera, confirming previous claims from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. With periscope zoom technology, we can expect significant improvements to the iPhone 15 Pro Max's zoom capabilities. The iPhone 14 Pro Max, for example, is limited to 3x zoom, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max is expected to have between 5x and 10x zoom.

Unlike most cameras that have an image sensor directly underneath the camera lens, folded optics systems use angled mirrors to reflect light toward the image sensor. The directional shift is what allows for optical zoom that surpasses what's possible using a standard telephoto camera system.

Apple likely decided to make the periscope lens exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max for now due to space constraints. According to information from our sources, the camera module used in the iPhone 15 Pro Max is, to a certain extent, larger than the camera module in the iPhone 14 Pro models and the smaller iPhone 15 Pro. Apple appears to have increased the size of the camera module to accommodate the periscope lens hardware, which in turn required other internal components like the midframe assembly to be shifted accordingly.

In 2024, the iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to increase in size to 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches, giving Apple space for the periscope lens in both the Pro and Pro Max models. As noted by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, periscope zoom will not be limited to the larger Pro Max in the ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup.

Along with periscope zoom, the iPhone 15 Pro Max will include the same 48-megapixel IMX-803 image sensor and Ultra Wide and Telephoto cameras as the iPhone 15 Pro.

It's worth noting that the information presented here is pre-production information, and may not necessarily reflect the exact hardware of mass production units, but it represents our best visibility into what Apple has been planning for the new iPhone lineup.

To read more on what to expect, check out our dedicated rumor roundups for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro.

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Top Rated Comments

TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️

42 months ago

You do realize there are already other cell phones with periscope lens. Apple is late to the game (as usual).

True but the problem is they are not running the World’s Most Advanced Operating System. iOS ✅

Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)

I'm so excited about the Periscope Lens System on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. I can't wait to try it out! It will be a Game Changer in the photography world.

Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)

icemantx

"The iPhone 15 is not expected to use the Sony IMX-803 image sensor from the iPhone 14 Pro, and will instead use a different Sony sensor with improved capabilities."

"As far as the iPhone 15 Pro is concerned, improvements focus mainly on the Telephoto and Ultra Wide cameras, with the Main camera still using the same Sony IMX-803 image sensor found in the iPhone 14 Pro."

So you are saying the regular iPhone 15/15 Plus will have a better main camera than the Phone 15 Pro? Or just an improved sensor as compared to the iPhone 14/14 Plus?

Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)

k1121j

Not enough reason to upgrade from the 14 Pro for me. :(

NCPine

I really want that periscope optical zoom, but I probably will not get it. You have to remember that the Pro Max not only is a lot to fit in a pocket, but very hard to use. You probably will not be able to reach across the screen for single handed use. UI designers constantly have touchable items at the top left of the screen. This will be unreachable for single handed use, even if you can "palm a basketball".

Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)