iPhone 16 Pro Max Rumored to Feature Bigger, More Advanced Main Camera Sensor

The iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature a bigger, more advanced main camera sensor to deliver improved photography and videography capabilities, according to new information coming out of Asia.

iPhone 15 Pro Cameras
The claim comes from "Digital Chat Station," a Weibo user responsible for a range of details about the camera technology of upcoming iPhone models. According to the latest post on the matter, the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max will be an "image flagship," suggesting that it will be heavily focused on its camera capabilities.

The device's main camera will apparently feature a customized 48-megapixel Sony IMX903 sensor with advanced features like a stacked design for better performance, a 14-bit Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) for high-quality image data conversion, and Digital Gain Control (DCG) for better dynamic range and noise control.

The Weibo user also reiterated their previous claim that the ‌‌iPhone 16 Pro‌‌ Max will feature a 12% larger camera sensor that is 1/1.14-inches in size. The ‌‌iPhone‌ 14‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 15 Pro models currently feature a 1/1.28-inch sensor. A larger sensor could improve the main ‌iPhone‌ camera's dynamic range and background blur, as well as substantially enhance low-light photography capabilities since a bigger surface area can capture more light with the same shutter speed and aperture.

The leaker also mentioned in passing that the next-generation high-end iPhones will feature a slightly more curved screen design, iterating on the design introduced with the ‌iPhone 15‌ lineup last year. Corroborating information shared by MacRumors last year, the post added that the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models will have virtually the same thickness as their predecessors.

Digital Chat Station accurately revealed that the ‌iPhone 15‌ and ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus would feature a slightly smaller 48-megapixel sensor than the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max last year, as well as the display panel design of the ‌iPhone‌ 12 back in 2020. The iPhone 16 lineup is expected to debut in the fall.

Related Roundup: iPhone 16 Pro
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

New iPhone 17 Pro Details: Brighter Display, Best Battery Life, and More

Wednesday September 3, 2025 5:33 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors. According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Tuesday September 2, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices. Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 16 $799 iPhone 17 ...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Coming Next Week: Eight Reasons to Upgrade

Thursday September 4, 2025 7:38 am PDT by
We're only days away from Apple's "Awe dropping" fall event scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 9 – and along with the new iPhone 17 series, we're going to get a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra for the first time since 2023. By the time the Ultra 3 is unveiled, it will have been two years since the previous model arrived. The intervening period has left plenty of room for...

Top Rated Comments

Account25476 Avatar
21 months ago


Attachment Image
Score: 46 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unggoy Murderer Avatar
21 months ago
In my experience, even between the 14 Pro Max and the 15 Pro Max there was quite a noticeable improvement to image quality, especially on the telescopic lens. I feel a lot more confident using the 5x option now.

Would love to see a 48-mp or even a 24-mp sensor on future telescopic lenses over more zoom. Image quality is there now, but I'm hoping for better detail in future iterations (which the 48-mp sensor certainly affords).

Here's one off the 15 Pro Max 5x lens, I think it does a solid job.



Attachment Image
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
krspkbl Avatar
21 months ago
yey a bigger camera bump!? just what i wanted.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HeavenDynamic Avatar
21 months ago
So again the giant phone having a better camera? That sucks. Give it to the smaller 16 Pro as well!
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mazz0 Avatar
21 months ago
I've heard the iPhone 18 will have an even better camera, and possibly a faster processor too. It's a few years out so take it with a pinch of salt, but I will say my sources seem pretty confident.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bodhisattva Avatar
21 months ago

In my experience, even between the 14 Pro Max and the 15 Pro Max there was quite a noticeable improvement to image quality, especially on the telescopic lens. I feel a lot more confident using the 5x option now.

Would love to see a 48-mp or even a 24-mp sensor on future telescopic lenses over more zoom. Image quality is there now, but I'm hoping for better detail in future iterations (which the 48-mp sensor certainly affords).

Here's one off the 15 Pro Max 5x lens, I think it does a solid job.


As a part time professional photographer (shooting with 5D Mark IV and an EOS R3 by Canon), image quality comes from the lens quality. The higher my pro cameras go in terms of mp are 30.4, but the ISO range is 100-32000. The trick is to have a full-frame CMOS sensor onboard. For me the bodies run $3-6k, and each lens anywhere from $2k-10k. For phones to come as far as they have considering the incredible small size, and all we can do with them, I'm amazed each time I shoot. Like many machines/tools..it's all in the hands of the artist the wields it. Great photo by the way!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)