Transitioning from an iPhone 8 Plus or iPhone XS to Apple’s latest iPhone might give the impression of a camera downgrade. However, Apple’s latest iPhone camera offers more than its initial appearance suggests.
In 2016, Apple introduced the iPhone 7 Plus, marking the debut of a dual-camera system. It included a standard wide-angle camera alongside Apple’s first telephoto lens.
This innovation enabled 2x optical zoom while eliminating the image quality issues common with digital zoom, and it also introduced Portrait mode, utilizing the dual-camera setup to emulate background blur through depth perception.
The following year, Apple enhanced the dual-camera system in both the iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X. In 2018, the iPhone XS maintained the 2x optical zoom with its dedicated telephoto lens. Until then, the dual lenses provided 1x and 2x images without relying on digital zoom.
Starting with the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro in 2019, Apple offered a different approach. The iPhone 11 retained dual lenses; however, the secondary camera was designed for ultra-wide shots at 0.5x rather than the telephoto shots at 2x. If a 2x telephoto was essential, one had to opt for the iPhone 11 Pro, which marked Apple’s first device with three rear-facing cameras: ultra wide, wide, and telephoto.
Since the iPhone 11 lineup, the presence of two cameras typically indicates wide and ultra-wide capabilities, whereas three cameras signify the incorporation of telephoto, wide, and ultra-wide lenses.
The iPhone 14 Pro made further adjustments in 2022, upgrading the telephoto lens to 3x, while the main camera reached 48 megapixels for the first time. Apple began utilizing the 48 MP sensor to capture both 1x and 2x photos with the same lens.
The iPhone 16 Pro features three cameras, enabling shooting at 0.5x, 1x/2x, and 5x optical zoom. The standard iPhone 16 incorporates two cameras for capturing 0.5x and 1x/2x shots.
In contrast, Apple’s newest device, the iPhone 16e, features a single rear camera with a 48 MP sensor. Mirroring earlier models, the iPhone 16e can capture both 1x and 2x shots without relying on digital zoom via its sole lens.
This means that the single camera on the iPhone 16e is comparable to the dual camera setup found in models such as the iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, and iPhone XS.
It’s impressive for a single-camera system that might initially seem reminiscent of an iPad’s camera!
