Apple's upcoming iPhone 14 range is getting a lot bigger, both in size and with an increased price. But the biggest upgrade has just been revealed.
Apple iPhone 14 Pro concept showing larger main cameras
Acclaimed analyst and Apple insider Ming-Chi Kuo states that the new iPhone 14 range will have Apple's biggest increase in camera resolution in seven years. And it has significant size repercussions.
"The main reason for the larger and more prominent rear-camera bump of the 14 Pro/Pro Max is upgrading the wide camera to 48MP (vs. 13 Pro/Pro Max's 12MP)," explains Kuo. "The diagonal length of 48MP CIS will increase by 25-35%, and the height of 48MP's 7P lens will increase by 5-10%."
A jump by up to 35% for the CMOS Image Sensor is massive, so is quadrupling the iPhone's camera resolution — Apple has stuck with a 12-megapixel main camera since the iPhone 6S was released in 2015. Kuo's comments also refer to the recently leaked iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro detailed schematics, which show a 15% increase in the thickness of the rear camera bump as a consequence. A bump that was already increased greatly last year on the iPhone 13 line-up.
Leaked Apple iPhone 14 Pro schematics
Two further factors are worth noting here. First, the resolution jump brings iPhone cameras into line with most rivals (Samsung even has a 108MP sensor). Second, the final outputted image is likely to still be 12MP due to a process known as Pixel Binning. That said, Pixel Binning brings significant detail and low light improvements which could have a dramatic impact on image quality, especially considering how good iPhone cameras are even with a 12MP sensor.
It will also be interesting to see if there are performance differences here, both in camera speed and image processing. Multiple leaks claim the iPhone 14 / iPhone 14 Max will retain Apple's 2021 A15 chipset, while the iPhone 14 Pro / iPhone 14 Pro Max will move to the next-gen A16. Cynics may argue that any performance gap will help Apple upsell iPhone fans to the newly redesigned Pro models, especially in conjunction with their eye-opening redesign.
Then again, this is where their hefty price increases could backfire.
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