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iPhone 16 Pro vs 12 Pro cameras: Big picture upgrade?

iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are Apple’s newest and most powerful smartphones. So how much have the camera systems improved since 2020? Here’s a detailed look at iPhone 16 Pro vs 12 Pro cameras.

For various other iPhone face-offs check out these guides, otherwise, read on 😁:

iPhone 16 Pro vs 12 Pro cameras

Rear Cameras

Both the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max devices have new 48MP main rear cameras. And there’s a new 48MP ultra wide lens, 12MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, the all-new Camera Control button/sensor, and the latest-gen Photographic Styles.

iPhone 16 Pro vs 12 Pro cameras

That’s a serious jump up from the 12MP main lens and the rest of the 12 Pro/Max camera system. And there are a number of other upgrades like macro photography, spatial photos, and more.

iPhone 16 ProiPhone 12 ProiPhone 16 Pro MaxiPhone 12 Pro Max
Camera Control
Main lens48MP, ƒ/1.78 aperture12MP, ƒ/1.6 aperture48MP, ƒ/1.78 aperture12MP, ƒ/1.6 aperture
Main lens sensor2.44 µm quad pixel1.4 µm pixels2.44 µm quad pixel1.4 µm pixels
Main lens focal length24 mm26 mm24 mm26 mm
Ultra Wide lens48MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture12MP, ƒ/2.4 aperture48MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture12MP, ƒ/2.4 aperture
Telephoto lens12MP, ƒ/2.8 aperture (up to 5x zoom)12MP, ƒ/2.0 aperture (up to 2x zoom)12MP, ƒ/2.8 aperture (up to 5x zoom)12MP, ƒ/2.0 aperture (up to 2.5x zoom)
Stabilization2nd gen Sensor-shift optical image stabilizationSensor-shift optical image stabilization2nd gen Sensor-shift optical image stabilizationSensor-shift optical image stabilization
Optical zoom0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x0.5x, 1x, 2x0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x0.5x, 1x, 2.5x
Digital zoomUp to 25xUp to 10xUp to 25xUp to 12x
FlashAdaptive True Tone FlashTrue Tone Flash with Slow SyncAdaptive True Tone FlashTrue Tone Flash with Slow Sync
Photonic Engine
Deep Fusion
Smart HDR 3
Smart HDR 5
Next-gen portraits with Focus and Depth Control
Portrait Lighting with six effects
Night mode
Night mode portraits
Latest-gen Photographic Styles
Spatial photos
Macro photography
Apple ProRAW

If you haven’t checked out Camera Control in-depth yet, here’s everything you need to know:

Video recording

iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max step up video recording with 4K Dolby Vision/HDR video recording at up to 120 fps.

You can also record at up to 120 fps for 1080p and ProRes recordings with 16 Pro/Max. Other new features are wind noise reduction and Audio Mix.

iPhone 16 Pro vs 12 Pro cameras video

And compared to 12 Pro/Max, the 16 Pro/Max deliver ProRes, Action mode, Cinematic mode, ACES, macro video, spatial video, log recording, 4 studio-quality mics, and more.

iPhone 16 ProiPhone 12 ProiPhone 16 Pro MaxiPhone 12 Pro Max
4K Dolby Vision/HDR recording✅ – at 24, 25, 30, 60, 100, or 120 fps✅ – at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps✅ – at 24, 25, 30, 60, 100, or 120 fps✅ – at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps
1080p recording✅ – at 25, 30, 60, or 120 fps✅ – at 25, 30, or 60 fps✅ – at 25, 30, 60, or 120 fps✅ – at 25, 30, or 60 fps
Cinematic mode✅ – up to 4K HDR at 30 fps✅ – up to 4K HDR at 30 fps
Action mode✅ – up to 2.8K at 60 fps✅ – up to 2.8K at 60 fps
ProRes recording✅ – up to 4K at 120 fps with external recording✅ – up to 4K at 120 fps with external recording
Log video recording
Academy Color Encoding System
Macro video recording
Spatial video recording✅ – at 1080p at 30 fps✅ – at 1080p at 30 fps
Slo-mo recording✅ – 1080p up to 240 fps and 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps✅ – 1080p up to 240 fps✅ – 1080p up to 240 fps and 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps✅ – 1080p up to 240 fps
Time-lapse with stabilization
Night mode Time-lapse
QuickTake video✅ – up to 4K at 60 fps in Dolby Vision✅ – up to 4K at 60 fps in Dolby Vision
Stabilization2nd-gen sensor-shift optical image stabilization for video
3D sensor‑shift optical image stabilization and autofocus for video (Telephoto)
Sensor-shift optical image stabilization for video (Wide)
Optical image stabilization for video (Wide)
2nd-gen sensor-shift optical image stabilization for video
3D sensor‑shift optical image stabilization and autofocus for video (Telephoto)
Sensor-shift optical image stabilization for video (Wide)
Optical image stabilization for video (Wide)
Cinematic video stabilization✅ – for 4K, 1080p, and 720p✅ – for 4K, 1080p, and 720p✅ – for 4K, 1080p, and 720p✅ – for 4K, 1080p, and 720p
Audio zoom
Stereo recording
4 studio-quality mics
True tone flash
Wind noise reduction
Audio Mix
Continuous autofocus video
Playback zoom

Selfie camera

Apple’s TrueDepth front camera is upgraded on iPhone 16 Pro/Max vs 12 Pro/Max with the latest-gen Photographic Styles, Smart HDR 5 for photos, ProRAW, log video recording, and more.

iPhone 16 ProiPhone 12 ProiPhone 16 Pro MaxiPhone 12 Pro Max
TrueDepth front camera12MP, ƒ/1.9 aperture12MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture12MP, ƒ/1.9 aperture12MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture
Autofocus with Focus Pixels
Retina Flash
Photonic Engine
Deep Fusion
Smart HDR 3 for photos
Smart HDR 5 for photos
Next-gen portraits with Focus and Depth Control
Portrait Lighting with six effects
Animoji and Memoji
Night mode
Night mode time-lapse
Latest-gen Photographic Styles
Lens correction
Auto image stabilization
Wide color capture for photos and Live Photos
4K Dolby Vision/HDR recording✅ – at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps✅ – at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps (only up to 30 fps for HDR/Dolby)✅ – at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps✅ – at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps (only up to 30 fps for HDR/Dolby)
1080p Dolby Vision recording✅ – at 25, 30, or 60 fps✅ – at 25, 30, or 60 fps✅ – at 25, 30, or 60 fps✅ – at 25, 30, or 60 fps
Cinematic mode✅ – up to 4K HDR at 30 fps✅ – up to 4K HDR at 30 fps
Apple ProRAW
ProRes recording✅ – up to 4K HDR at 60 fps with external recording✅ – up to 4K HDR at 60 fps with external recording
Log video recording
Slo-mo recording✅ – 1080p at 120 fps✅ – 1080p at 120 fps✅ – 1080p at 120 fps✅ – 1080p at 120 fps
QuickTake video✅ – up to 4K at 60 fps in Dolby Vision✅ – up to 4K at 60 fps in Dolby Vision
Cinematic video stabilization✅ – for 4K, 1080p, 720p✅ – for 4K, 1080p, 720p✅ – for 4K, 1080p, 720p✅ – for 4K, 1080p, 720p
Spatial Audio and stereo recording

iPhone 16 Pro vs 12 Pro I/O

Compared to the iPhone 12 Pro/Max, 16 Pro/Max have a USB-C port instead of Lightning with up to 10 Gbps transfer speeds and new capabilities like shooting video and photos directly to external storage.

Beyond the new Camera Control, there are other I/O upgrades like WiFi 7 support, MagSafe supporting up to 25W or wireless power, and more.

iPhone 16 Pro vs 12 Pro cameras I/O
iPhone 16 ProiPhone 12 ProiPhone 16 Pro MaxiPhone 12 Pro Max
USB-C✅ – USB 3 up to 10Gbps✅ – USB 3 up to 10Gbps
Lightning✅ – Up to 480Mbps✅ – Up to 480Mbps
WiFi7676
Bluetooth5.35.05.35.0
UWB✅ – Gen 2✅ – Gen 1✅ – Gen 2✅ – Gen 1
NFC with reader mode
Thread
CellularGSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA+, DC-HSDPAGSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA+, DC-HSDPAGSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA+, DC-HSDPAGSM/EDGE, UMTS/HSPA+, DC-HSDPA
5GSub‑6 GHz and mmWave with 4×4 MIMOSub‑6 GHz and mmWave with 4×4 MIMOSub‑6 GHz and mmWave with 4×4 MIMOSub‑6 GHz and mmWave with 4×4 MIMO
4GGigabit LTE with 4×4 MIMO and LAAGigabit LTE with 4×4 MIMO and LAAGigabit LTE with 4×4 MIMO and LAAGigabit LTE with 4×4 MIMO and LAA
GPSPrecision dual-frequency GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, and NavIC)Precision dual-frequency GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou)Precision dual-frequency GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, and NavIC)Precision dual-frequency GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou)
Audio playbackSpatial audio/Dolby AtmosSpatial audio/Dolby AtmosSpatial audio/Dolby AtmosSpatial audio/Dolby Atmos
Video playbackHDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLGHDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLGHDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLGHDR with Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG
SIMDual eSIM in USeSIM and nanoSIMDual eSIM in USeSIM and nanoSIM
MagSafe✅ with 25W charging✅ with 15W charging✅ with 25W charging✅ with 15W charging
Qi and Qi2Qi, but no Qi2Qi, but no Qi2

iPhone 16 Pro vs 12 Pro cameras: Buyer’s guide

If you’re curious whether it’s worth upgrading overall, here is a broader summary of 16 Pro vs 12 Pro.

Keep in mind both iPhone 16 and 16 Pro feature the new Camera Control button/sensor (and Apple Intelligence support).

Reasons to buy iPhone 16 Pro/Max

  • Most powerful and capable cameras for both photos and video
  • Camera Control button/sensor
  • Larger, higher-res display with ProMotion, Dynamic Island, and always-on
  • Best battery life in an iPhone
  • Titanium build with very slim bezels
  • USB-C with 10Gbps speeds, WiFi 7 support
  • Fastest and most powerful chip

Reasons to buy iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, or keep what you have

  • If the features above aren’t a big deal for you, save your money and grab the iPhone 16 which includes most of the other new features this year or keep your older iPhone 😁
  • You could also consider grabbing an iPhone 15 Pro if you’d like Apple Intelligence support but don’t want/need the latest 16/16 Pro features

You can buy iPhone 16 and 16 Pro from Apple, your carrier, and more.

What are you thinking? Upgrade? Keep your current iPhone? Let us know in the comments!

Thanks for reading our guide on iPhone 16 Pro vs 12 Pro cameras!

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Avatar for Michael Potuck Michael Potuck

Michael is an editor for 9to5Mac. Since joining in 2016 he has written more than 3,000 articles including breaking news, reviews, and detailed comparisons and tutorials.


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