Autumn is a time for new products from Apple, so let’s take a look at the camera capabilities of the fresh iPhone 16 Pro Max and compare it to the previous version, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, to find out if it’s worth upgrading. Both smartphones look almost identical from the outside, the cameras are also visually indistinguishable, and the height of their protrusion above the body is the same.
So first, let’s find out what innovations for working with photos and videos the iPhone 16 Pro Max design has brought. If you pay attention to the right side of the smartphone, you’ll notice a new Camera Control button.
It is designed to simplify access to camera functions, especially when shooting horizontally. You can change the exposure, zoom ratio, photo styles, blur level, and tones, which can be useful for those who actively shoot with their smartphones and like flexibility when shooting.
Camera Control has two pressing positions: half-press and full-press, and you can scroll your finger across it to change settings. This evokes new emotions and helps you change settings without touching the screen. At the same time, it can be difficult to get used to the new button because it’s a new control on iPhone, so you’ll need to spend time learning how to use it. Also, people with small palms may find the button uncomfortable. And for those who have been actively shooting with previous iPhones, it may seem unnecessary and even interfere.
In addition to Camera Control, another innovation of the iPhone 16 Pro is support for slow-motion video recording in 4K resolution at 120 frames per second. This mode has been available in professional cameras for a long time, and the iPhone 15 Pro had the ability to shoot 4K 120 only in Full HD. Apple immediately showed how it could be used on the example of The Weeknd’s music video.
But do ordinary users need it? Most likely, most people will not even notice this innovation.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a slightly larger 6.9-inch screen, the difference with the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max is not striking, but when shooting, the more details you can see on the display, the better. In addition, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is 2 millimeters thicker, and paradoxically, it’s more comfortable in the hand, especially when you’re actively using the camera.
When shooting, I tested both smartphones on all available main cameras and in portrait mode. True Tone was turned off, all shooting parameters were the same. During the testing, I tried to achieve the most realistic situation in which most users will find themselves. In my case, the iPhone 16 Pro Max produced warmer colors on the screen, but when viewed on a computer, the difference is not so noticeable.
Both smartphones demonstrate flagship and very similar image quality, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max has a slightly faster response time and autofocus.
I couldn’t see the difference on the 1x cameras, and the 5x ones are absolutely identical, as demonstrated by the dozens of photos I took. But the 5x telephoto lens is now available not only in the Max version, but also in the smaller Pro.
I planned to see the main difference in the ultra-wide-angle module. But it didn’t happen as expected. In normal shooting mode, the cameras showed the most similar result.
However, the 48-megapixel sensor in the ultra-wide-angle camera gives you more detail in good light. This can be an important factor for photographers who are looking for better detail by zooming in on all their photos to 400%. However, for the average user, this difference may not be significant.
Next, I tested the portrait mode and added photos taken with a Canon R5 camera to the comparison, and the results were interesting: the new iPhone handles backgrounds and details perfectly, but of course, a comparison with a professional camera is only conditional. Physics can’t be fooled; the larger sensor in the R5 produces more volume. But the smartphones immediately show higher sharpness and contrast. I also didn’t see much of an increase in speed in portrait mode between the 15th and 16th generations.
Both smartphones support 4K slow-motion video recording at 120 frames per second. In the iPhone 16 Pro Max, this feature looks more impressive because it is now available in 4K resolution. Therefore, I also added the Canon R5 with its 4K 120 FPS to the comparison. As a result, the 15 Pro Max is expected to lose in detail to the 16 version, but comparing it to the R5, we see that the smartphones produce a flat and overexposed picture and not the best white balance. The footage from the R5 looks cinematic with better colors.
It is also possible to write in ProRes LOG – this format allows you to store more information about colors and brightness, which makes it possible to perform detailed color correction in post-production. This is especially important for those who work with video at a professional level and want to maximize the potential of their equipment. But for active shooting in LOG, I recommend having a smartphone cage + holder for an external SSD and writing directly to it, which will help avoid problems with transporting the footage.
So, after my testing, I can say that the iPhone 16 Pro Max doesn’t bring a lot of changes to the photo and video experience, but its camera has received several significant updates, including an ultra-wide-angle sensor. The main changes are centered on a new camera control button, support for 4K 120 FPS, and improved shooting capabilities.
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