Before the launch of the iPhone 16, it was indicated that the device could support 8K video recording; however, it seemed likely that Apple would reserve this feature for the iPhone 17.
Apple indeed chose not to include it with the iPhone 16 – probably for valid reasons – and a reliable leaker supports the expectation that 8K video functionality will be available in the iPhone 17 series…
Video Recording Features of the iPhone 16
All models of the iPhone 16 support 4K video recording, offering slow-motion capture at 60fps across the standard, Plus, and 16e versions—while Pro and Pro Max models can achieve 120fps.
Leading up to the release, there were indications that Apple had experimented with 8K recording on the iPhone 16 Pro models, but there was a key reason for its exclusion.
The iPhone 16 Pro is capable of shooting 4K videos at 120fps for the first time (in contrast, the iPhone 15 is limited to 4K 60fps) […]
Evidence also suggests that Apple has tested 8K video recording with the iPhone 16 Pro. As an 8K image equates to about 35 megapixels, both the wide and ultra-wide lenses should have sufficient resolution for 8K video. Furthermore, the new A18 Pro chip appears to be compatible with 8K as well.
Nevertheless, it remains uncertain whether Apple has chosen to activate 8K on production models, particularly since the zoom lens would still only support 4K. Apple may hold off on enabling 8K until next year’s models, which are rumored to feature a higher resolution zoom lens.
iPhone users generally expect to switch between lenses while filming, so it could be confusing if they are unable to switch to the telephoto lens while recording 8K video.
Anticipated 8K Video in the iPhone 17
The iPhone 16 utilizes a 12MP telephoto sensor, whereas the iPhone 17 is expected to make a significant upgrade to a 48MP telephoto camera. This would mean that all three lenses would support 8K video recording, and we believe Apple will include this higher resolution in this year’s iPhones.
Leaker Fixed Focus Digital, known for accurate predictions including the Desert Titanium color and the naming of the iPhone 16e, now corroborates this information. An awkward machine translation from Chinese includes the remark:
With 8K on the horizon, anticipate the iPhone 17 series.
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