Apple’s newest iPhone series is now available from Smart and it comes with a slew of hardware and feature upgrades. The cameras of the iPhone 15 family, in particular, have received several updates. Whether you’re already a satisfied owner of the iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro or are still on the fence, here’s everything you need to know about the iPhone 15 series’ cameras.
The Basics of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Cameras
Just like the iPhone 14 series, the new iPhone 15 is equipped with two cameras: one main shooter and one ultrawide. On the other hand, the iPhone 15 Pro comes with an additional telephoto camera.
If you’re choosing between the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro, there are several differences between their cameras.
For one, the iPhone 15 Pro’s main camera (24mm, f/1.8) is slightly wider than the iPhone 15’s (26mm, f/1.6), so it’s able to fit more in the shot.
The ultrawide camera for the iPhone 15 series remains the same at 12 megapixels. However, the one on the iPhone 15 features a slower but wider lens while the iPhone 15 Pro has a faster but narrower one.
Lastly, the rear cameras of the iPhone 15 series have all been equipped with a new nanoscale coating that aims to reduce reflections, glare, and lens flares.
The Upgrade: 48 Megapixels Across the Board
The main camera sensor of the iPhone 15 has been updated to 48 megapixels from just 12 megapixels, now allowing both models to stand toe to toe with their iPhone 15 Pro siblings. The iPhone 15 is equipped with a 2.0 µm quad pixel sensor while the iPhone 15 Pro boasts a larger sensor at 2.44 µm.
The 48-megapixel sensor of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro family is able to shoot 24MP photos by default to allow for more details and smaller files but can also use the full 48 megapixels that are saved as HEIF (High-Efficiency Image Files). In addition, the iPhone 15 Pro has access to saving photos in Apple’s ProRaw format.
The increased resolution that the new sensor offers now gives the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro a sensor crop feature, which utilizes the middle of the sensor to offer 2x zoom. This produces 12-megapixel photos at a quality similar to a dedicated telephoto camera. Additionally, the iPhone 15 Pro also sports 1.2X and 1.5X sensor crop zoom options.
So even if the iPhone 15 is not equipped with a dedicated telephoto camera, both models are still able to capture 2x zoomed photos at a similar quality.
The Farthest Telephoto Range on an iPhone
If you want even more zoom capability, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max offer 3x and 5x telephoto cameras, respectively. The new 5x optical zoom of the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the best Apple has released thus far. Apple was able to achieve this by utilizing a periscope lens and a new tetraprism design that reflects the light from the lens four times before reaching the sensor.
Apple has also equipped the iPhone 15 Pro Max with a new 3D sensor shift module that is capable of moving in all three axes and making 10,000 micro adjustments per second. The new module is arguably the best camera stabilization on a smartphone so far and it allows for more stable shots when using the 5x telephoto camera.
Smarter Portraits and HDR
Taking portraits is now easier with the new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro as Apple has upgraded the mode to activate automatically when the camera app detects that it is pointed at a person, a cat, or a dog. Photos captured in portrait mode include automatically generated depth information, allowing you to not only blur the background of the subject but also change the focus subject entirely.
Apple has also improved its Smart HDR feature so that it captures features like skin tones more accurately while also providing bright highlights and deeper shadows.
Better Pro Photo and Video
With Apple’s updates on the cameras, using the iPhone 15 Pro for professional photo and video work has become even more manageable. A new Log encoding option has been introduced, allowing for better color grading in post-production. It also supports the ACES (Academy Color Encoding System) color workflow standard.
The iPhone 15 series changing to a USB Type-C port from a Lightning connector has also made it possible to capture ProRes video up to 4K at 60fps when recording to an external storage device via the USB-C port. The new port can also be used to shoot and instantly transfer 48MP ProRAW images from iPhone to Mac.
The Best iPhone Cameras to Date
The upgrades to the cameras of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro are all pretty impressive: from higher resolution options and sensor cropping across all models to the farthest zoom on an iPhone ever, and more. Whether you choose the iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro, you’re sure to get some of the best quality photos and videos a smartphone can offer.
The iPhone 15 series is available via Smart’s Signature Plans+ 999, which includes unlimited 5G for 12 months, 20GB of mobile data, unlimited calls and texts to all networks, unlimited landline calls, and Netflix on Us (Netflix Mobile subscription for the plan duration or a PHP 149 monthly discount on any existing Netflix subscription).
Applying for a Signature Plans+ 999 allows you to purchase the iPhone 15 via a one-time cashout (via cash or credit card), a 0% 12-month credit card installment, or a downpayment combined with a 24-month amortization billed to your plan. Get your new iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro from Smart today!
