All iPhone 14 Models Feature New Rear-Facing Ambient Light Sensor

[MacRumors]

All four iPhone 14 models feature dual ambient light sensors for the first time, according to Apple's tech specs for the devices.

According to TechCrunch's Matthew Panzarino, all iPhone 14 models are equipped with a new ambient light sensor on the back of the devices, whereas previous iPhone models only have a single ambient light sensor above the display. Panzarino said the sensor helps to both adjust display brightness and determine exposure for the rear camera system.

In his iPhone 14 Pro review for Mashable, Stan Schroeder said he held an iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro side by side against bright light, and then immediately went into a dark room, and found the 14 Pro was more responsive at adapting the display's brightness.

This is just one of several smaller hardware changes on the iPhone 14 models, with another one being improved GPS accuracy on Pro models.

Article Link: All iPhone 14 Models Feature New Rear-Facing Ambient Light Sensor

 

[840quadra]

Interesting, you would think the rear camera be able to determine light levels with built-in sensors. Or use the other cameras (not selected) for the same thing.

 

[JM]

No one is going to care when buying this on the 14. It’s very cool, but a quality of life improvement that no one will know about. Why would Apple even bother putting it on the 14?

Oh well, Apple wants to sell the pro anyways. 🤷‍♂️

 

[JPack]

Interesting, you would think the rear camera be able to determine light levels with built-in sensors. Or use the other cameras (not selected) for the same thing.

Imagine if the user is taking a selfie or using FaceTime indoors in front of a bright window. The front ambient sensor probably wouldn't crank up the display brightness very high. Activating the rear camera for this situation would use too much power.

 

[Squillace]

No one is going to care when buying this on the 14. It’s very cool, but a quality of life improvement that no one will know about. Why would Apple even bother putting it on the 14?

Oh well, Apple wants to sell the pro anyways. 🤷‍♂️

Because using Apple devices is about the experience.

It's thanks to little details like these, barely known by wide public, that people can find satisfaction in using an iPhone, even the cheapest one. Things they aren't aware of that contributes to a nice usage experience.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Because using Apple devices is about the experience.

It's thanks to little details like these, barely known by wide public, that people can find satisfaction in using an iPhone, even the cheapest one. Things they aren't aware of that contributes to a nice usage experience.

It really is the little things that make the overall experience good.

 

[GDF]

No one is going to care when buying this on the 14. It’s very cool, but a quality of life improvement that no one will know about. Why would Apple even bother putting it on the 14?

Oh well, Apple wants to sell the pro anyways. 🤷‍♂️

I think it is awesome and love little things like that, but I have upgraded every year but one. I used to upgrade cameras every year at one time and now just upgrade the iPhone camera, so win/win for me!

 

[appleguy123]

This is really peculiar in terms of why they would pay for this as an extra part when the front sensor worked fine. Makes me wonder if it’s going to be possible to head mount the latest iPhone for a VR experience in the near future. I can’t really think of much else that would make this necessary to add hardware to the phone.

 

[JM]

Because using Apple devices is about the experience.

It's thanks to little details like these, barely known by wide public, that people can find satisfaction in using an iPhone, even the cheapest one. Things they aren't aware of that contributes to a nice usage experience.

Yes, it’s a fine detail that improves the experience, but I just don’t know why Apple bothered putting it on the 14.

They should have saved the cost of parts and kept it 14pro exclusive since it’s not really something they are marketing to sell the regular 14 with.

The 14 shopper just is not going to care about this unknown hardware feature and only think to themselves “Pro phone is better and only $200 more. I get that”.

 

[JM]

I think it is awesome and love little things like that, but I have upgraded every year but one. I used to upgrade cameras every year at one time and now just upgrade the iPhone camera, so win/win for me!

Sure! Exactly! It IS a nice touch for people who buy the 14… I just don’t think Apple should have bothered doing it for the majority of 14 buyers that just won’t care.

 

[xxray]

I hope this works as great as it sounds. It sucks being in those environments when your brightness keeps changing even though you override it cuz the front sensor keeps detecting changes.

 

[WilliamG]

I hope this works as great as it sounds. It sucks being in those environments when your brightness keeps changing even though you override it cuz the front sensor keeps detecting changes.

This. It's even annoying watching videos or browsing the web or... whatever! This is a welcome upgrade.

 

[utsava]

just spitballing here, but what if the rear ambient light sensor on the pros is used to better determine when the always on display should turn off (in a pocket, etc)

 

[aj8690]

I wonder if this will keep iPhone from ramping up to full brightness unnecessarily upon momentarily using it near a light source (like a desk lamp) when the room is only dark to moderately lit.

 

[CarAnalogy]

This is one of those things that seems obvious now that they’ve done it, but that I didn’t think about. I think they should have mentioned it, except maybe it could be perceived as fixing a shortcoming.

Agree with another poster, each new iPhone does usually have small niceties that year over year add up to a better experience compared with the Android flavor of the 6 month period.

 

[btrach144]

Yes! I use a 1,000 nit monitor. Often in the dark. The phone sees the room as dark but my eyes see it as bright due to the monitor. This will hopefully fix it!

 

[0924487]

Interesting, you would think the rear camera be able to determine light levels with built-in sensors. Or use the other cameras (not selected) for the same thing.

The key difference is processing power. Same reason Apple added the Motion Co-processor.

 

[0924487]

Sure! Exactly! It IS a nice touch for people who buy the 14… I just don’t think Apple should have bothered doing it for the majority of 14 buyers that just won’t care.

Ya know, poor people care a little too...

 

[840quadra]

The key difference is processing power. Same reason Apple added the Motion Co-processor.

I guess I don’t know what you’re getting at.

Considering android phones, use other camera sensors for depth as well as ambient light, it seems to be a proven method to accomplish both with minimal impact to system performance.

 

[svish]

Great! Should be useful for the camera system!

 

[il_teo77]

I suppose it also is tied to the always on display. If you put it face down the front sensor gets less light and the back one much more. If you put it in a pocket non of the sensors get any light. This helps the Phone understand if the display has to be on or can be shut off. Because gyroscope only wouldn’t help, especially in a pocket. Two ambient light sensor getting no light, might.

 

[_Spinn_]

Cool! This is a nice little addition that should help the camera.

 

[Nozuka]

Sure! Exactly! It IS a nice touch for people who buy the 14… I just don’t think Apple should have bothered doing it for the majority of 14 buyers that just won’t care.

This is one of the weirdest complaints i have ever seen.
This benefits the user experience and barely costs them anything.

 

[JM]

Ya know, poor people care a little too...

Poor people paying $799 for a cellphone? Yes, do tell.

 

[JM]

This is one of the weirdest complaints i have ever seen.
This benefits the user experience and barely costs them anything.

It just illustrates the directionless focus, and it’s annoying.

Especially since the 14 exists only to upsell to the pro.

People say “but it’s a lower cost iPhone”… except it’s not. Where is the $699 phone? Last year’s 13?

Apple just increased the entry level 14 series price to $799, and what do we get: last year’s pro cameras (but only two), last year’s chip, satellite connection, crash detection, and this rear plate light detector for better photos?

It’s annoying because why wouldn’t they advertise this feature and how it makes photos better (if that’s what it’s for). They just phoned the 14 in (ha) and they focus on the Pro, so why don’t they be consistent and even bother putting this sensor in the 14 series?

Just treat the 14 like the inferior product it is that is priced at a ridiculous level compared to the pro, and continue giving it less tech and save more money.

Weird complaint, yes, and it’s neat, but I’m still salty about Apple creating this whole new tier of iPhone that is the only way to get their best. They should just follow through with their commitment to only making the Pro phone get the good tech OR advertise the ways that they made the 14 great.

I would be less bothered by this if they actually put effort into marketing the 14.