The iPhone has one of the best cameras in the world. And if we think about the iPhone 16 or the iPhone 16 Pro, this is even more true. Whether you’re taking photos or recording videos, you’ll get professional results at the touch of a button. For several years now, iPhones have 48 megapixel cameras to offer even more image quality and brightness. But is this camera available in all models? Do I need to do anything to activate it?
Indeed, by default the 48 megapixels of the iPhone they are disabled so that our images do not take up too much space on the reel. Apple designed very interesting technology to take advantage of this 48 megapixel camera, while offering us an optimized image size. So we’re going to tell you everything about how the iPhone’s 48-megapixel cameras work.
How does the iPhone’s 48-megapixel camera work?
The iPhone’s 48-megapixel camera doesn’t take photos at this resolution automatically or by default. Because? Apple chose use a technology called “pixel binning”. This technique combines four small pixels into one larger one, capturing more light and improving image quality. However, normal photographs are usually taken at 12 or 24 megapixels for optimize storage space and gain brightness
So what’s the point of having a 48 megapixel sensor on the iPhone? The 48 megapixel camera has dual functionality:
- Capture more information when it’s daytime In this case, you can manually activate the 48 megapixels to take a photo at this resolution.
- At night or in dark placess, Apple combines these 48 megapixels four by four to have more light. The result will be a 12 megapixel photo. A standard resolution, but with the advantage of being taken with a 48 sensor and therefore capturing more light.
In low light conditions, the sensor chooses to combine the 48 megapixels into a 12 megapixel image. Although the final resolution is lower, this combination allows the camera to capture more light and thus improve image quality in dark environments. Apple designed this system to maximize sensor performance, ensuring users get the best possible image quality based on lighting conditions.
When is it appropriate to shoot with the iPhone at 48 megapixels?
Taking a photo at 48 megapixels is a good idea if you plan to crop or semi-professionally edit the image later. Doing it just because it has more resolution and then viewing it from the iPhone doesn’t mean it will be better. It will just be more defined if you zoom in on the photo later.
- If you want to take a 48 megapixel photo with iPhone, the ideal time would be during the day or in a very bright interior. It is precisely in these situations that the sensor can capture more details and colors.
- Yes on the other hand you take a photo at night or you are in a poorly lit interior, you can still take a 48 megapixel photo manually, but keep in mind that the result will be darkerwith less definition and even with noise or grain. As there are more pixels in the same area, they each receive less light. This is why Apple combines them, to receive more light per pixel.
Difference in light on a 48 megapixel photo in manual mode or a 24 megapixel photo in automatic mode
How to activate the 48 megapixel camera on iPhone?
Although the vast majority of the time we will use the 48 MP sensor grouped so that four pixels behave as one, here are the steps to followr to shoot with the iPhone with the highest quality and obtain 48 MP images. The steps to follow are as follows:
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > Camera > Formats
- Enable resolution control and ProRAW
In the Default Professional Format menu, you can choose the photo format. If it’s going to be a professional edition choose ProRAW maximum. Keep in mind that each photo can take up to 75 megabytes. This is why we recommend that if you want a 48 megapixel photo but for personal or semi-professional choose the maximum HEIF option. This will give you the best of both worlds: a little compression and a 48 megapixel photo. The choice will depend on your needs.
- After settings, go to Camera
- Click on the RAW button that you will find at the top right to activate it
- You can now take your photo at 48 megapixels on iPhone
What iPhone models and cameras have 48 megapixels?
Depending on which iPhone you have, you will be able to take more or less photos at 48 megapixels. Here we give you all the information by model concerning compatibility, from iPhone 14 Prothe first iPhone with a 48 megapixel camera. All those that came before it will have 12-megapixel sensors.
|
Main camera x1 |
Ultra wide angle camera x0.5 |
Telephoto camera |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
iPhone 14 Pro |
48 megapixels |
12 megapixels |
12 megapixels |
|
iphone15 |
48 megapixels |
12 megapixels |
12 megapixels |
|
iPhone 15 Pro |
48 megapixels |
12 megapixels |
12 megapixels |
|
iPhone16 |
48 megapixels |
12 megapixels |
12 megapixels |
|
iPhone 16 Pro |
48 megapixels |
48 megapixels |
12 megapixels |
Now that you know how the 48 megapixel camera works of the iPhone, it’s time to get the most out of it. Either with the ease of automatic mode, or by choosing the time and place carefully to take your photo at maximum resolution.
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