The whispers are getting louder in the tech corridors as rumors about the iPhone 16 Pro’s camera enhancements come to light. According to the latest gossip train, originating from DigitTimes Asia and further amplified by 9to5Mac, Apple has decided that the iPhone 16 Pro should inherit the vaunted 5x optical zoom camera from its pricier sibling, the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Last year, this photographic marvel was exclusively reserved for those willing to splurge on the largest and most wallet-denting model, leaving iPhone 15 Pro users to make do with a mere 3x optical zoom.
While the stage is being set for a harmonious uniformity in camera capabilities across Apple’s more glamorous models, there doesn’t seem to be much revolution beyond this alignment. The buzz suggests that the three rear cameras on both the iPhone 16 Pro and the Pro Max aren’t getting a major overhaul—just the usual titivations expected from yearly updates. Earlier hullabaloos around a potential 10x optical zoom on the iPhone 16 Pro Max have quieted, perhaps squashed under the reality of current technological constraints or market demands. After all, its main rival, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, keeps par with a 5x optical zoom too.
Furthermore, while the tech isle braces for more tidbits about the new iPhones expected in September 2024, the tech scene isn’t pausing for breath. Samsung and Google are queuing up their fanfares, ready to dazzle with new foldables and Pixels respectively. The race remains tight and exhilarating, with each player eager to outshine the others, or at least, keep up without tripping over their own features.
**Hot Take**
Oh, the juicy drama and the perennial promise of ‘the next big thing’ in the smartphone saga! Each year, like tech-driven groundhogs, we gaze upon rumors hoping they cast predictions of breathtaking innovations. Yet, here we are, celebrating a camera zoom that doesn’t really zoom all that much further into the future. Perhaps next, Apple will revolutionize the world by announcing that the iPhone 17 might actually—you won’t believe this—make phone calls.
Original Article: https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/the-iphone-16-pro-is-again-rumored-to-be-matching-the-pro-max-with-5x-optical-zoom