Sep 01,2025
iPhone 16 Pro Camera Sensor: What’s New and What’s Not
With the launch of the iPhone 16 lineup, one of the hottest topics has been its camera upgrades—especially the main sensor inside the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. After months of speculation, it’s now clear that Apple is once again partnering with Sony to deliver a custom sensor: the IMX903.
From IMX803 to IMX903: Evolution, Not Revolution
Last year’s iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max both used Sony’s IMX803. Going further back, the iPhone 6s jumped from 8MP to 12MP, and by the time we reached the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple had moved to a 48MP main camera. Alongside higher megapixels, Apple has steadily increased sensor size, keeping pace with the industry trend toward near-1-inch sensors.
The IMX903 in the iPhone 16 Pro maintains the same 1/1.28-inch size, 48MP resolution, and 1.22µm pixel pitch as last year. That’s smaller than the rumored 1/1.14-inch sensor with stacked transistor tech many fans were hoping for. So where’s the real upgrade?
Faster Processing, Better Efficiency
According to Apple, the new 48MP “fusion” camera features a faster sensor and a new camera architecture that moves data more efficiently from the sensor to the A18 Pro chip. What that means in practice:
Support for 4K 120fps Dolby Vision video, with frame-by-frame cinematic-grade color grading.
Zero-shutter lag when shooting 48MP photos.
Lower power consumption thanks to Sony’s 22nm process technology, the same used in its top-end LYT-900 one-inch sensor. (By comparison, the older IMX803 was built on 40nm.)
This shift to a smaller manufacturing process mirrors what we’ve seen in smartphone processors: more advanced lithography = better efficiency and performance.
Cost Rumors and Future Sensors
Before launch, rumors claimed the IMX903 would cost nearly double that of Sony’s one-inch IMX989. That seems exaggerated. Apple is Sony’s biggest semiconductor customer, contributing to over half of its sensor revenue. With Apple’s purchasing power, it’s unlikely the cost difference is anywhere near that extreme.
Instead, those cost rumors may have been referring to the IMX907, a next-gen sensor rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro. Early reports suggest a 1/1.12-inch, 50MP sensor with quad-pixel autofocus, stacked transistor tech, and improved low-light performance—features that would justify a much higher cost.
The Bigger Picture: Computational Photography
Since the iPhone 11, Apple has leaned heavily into computational photography, combining sensor data with neural engine algorithms to deliver sharper detail, better dynamic range, and smarter image processing. The sensor is the foundation, but the magic comes from the synergy between hardware and software.
The IMX903 may not bring a dramatic size increase, but its faster architecture unlocks the potential for Apple’s imaging pipeline to do more—especially in video. The real leap, however, may come when Apple adopts the next-generation stacked sensors in future models.
Final Thoughts
The iPhone 16 Pro’s camera upgrades may feel incremental, but they highlight a key truth in smartphone imaging: it’s no longer just about megapixels or sensor size, but also efficiency, processing speed, and computational power. As Apple continues to refine its hardware-software balance, the next breakthrough in mobile photography could be closer than we think.
Previous: Mirrorless vs DSLR: Why More People Are Switching to Mirrorless Cameras
Next: The Growing Digital Camera Market: Trends, Opportunities, and Best Picks
