iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 16 ProRAW JPEG-XL vs iPhone 15 ProRAW?

[lowimpact]

From everything I've read so far about the iPhone 16 Pro series the biggest single upgrade appears to be the massive ProRAW update to support JPEG-XL Lossless (and JPEG-XL Lossy) file formats. JPEG-XL file support in ProRAW will allow for (1) ProRAW Lossy image files that are 75% smaller (20 MB now vs 75 MB previously), (2) ProRAW Lossless files that are ~40% smaller (45 MB now vs 75MB previously), (3) significantly faster shooting speeds when shooting ProRAW Lossy or Lossless due to the combination of smaller JPEG-XL Lossless file having shorter write times and faster image sensor readout from the new sensor and (4) dramatically higher quality full resolution 48 MP lossy photos than were previously available from the main sensor when using JPEG-XL Lossy (albeit at 20 MB vs 5 MB HEIF Max).

Apple's HEIF implementation has always been much much more aggressive about trading off quality in exchange for hitting the lowest possible file sizes when compared to competing phones so the iPhone 16 Pro update making it easier to avoid HEIF entirely seems like a particularly big win. With JPEG-XL support JPEG-XL Lossy effectively removes any reason to use the HEIF Max 48 MP or HEIF 12 MP modes.

So why isn't everyone talking about JPEG-XL format support as this seems to be the only new "Pro" feature on the "Pro" phones (except the new mics)?

Has anyone done an in depth iPhone 16 Pro ProRAW Max (JPEG-XL Lossless, 45 MB) vs iPhone 15 Pro ProRAW Max (75 MB) comparison? Or an in depth iPhone 16 Pro ProRAW Max (JPEG-XL Lossy, 20 MB) vs iPhone 15 Pro ProRAW Max (75 MB) comparison? Or iPhone 16 Pro ProRAW Max (JPEG-XL Lossy, 20 MB) vs iPhone 15 Pro ProRAW Max (HEIF, 5 MB)?

 

[originalmagneto]

I’m just perplexed why Apple hasn’t backported this format to older iPhone phones like the 15pro or 14pro. I can’t see performance being the limiting factor here 🤔

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

I thought the 15 was going to have that format?

 

[lowimpact]

I’m just perplexed why Apple hasn’t backported this format to older iPhone phones like the 15pro or 14pro. I can’t see performance being the limiting factor here 🤔

Seriously. I assumed JPEG-XL would at least be backported to the 15 Pro series, but no indication that it will be so far.

I can't imagine it's an ISP limitation as the ISP in the 16 Pro series appears to be an extremely minor bump solely to allow 4k 120hz recording. It's also possible that the ISP on the 16 Pro / 15 Pro are identical and that 4k 120hz being unavailable on earlier phones was exclusively a sensor (ie. not an ISP) limitation.

 

[lowimpact]

I thought the 15 was going to have that format?

Why would you think this? I'd be really excited to be able to use JPEG-XL on my current 15 Pro Max 😁

 

[originalmagneto]

Seriously. I assumed JPEG-XL would at least be backported to the 15 Pro series, but no indication that it will be so far.

I can't imagine it's an ISP limitation as the ISP in the 16 Pro series appears to be an extremely minor bump solely to allow 4k 120hz recording. It's also possible that the ISP on the 16 Pro / 15 Pro are identical and that 4k 120hz being unavailable on earlier phones was exclusively a sensor (ie. not an ISP) limitation.

They (Apple) will argue that the faster readout speeds allowed for the JPEG-XL implementation, but I know its not true. AFAIK, there is no specific hardware to process JPEG-XL (as opposed to HEIF/HEIC) so its entirely on the ISP and as you said, the ISP has not been significantly upgraded from the 15P series. Also, I read, that JPEG-XL is significantly less processor intensive than Apple ProRAW processing, so...maybe it will be backported after the holidays. I don't see a BFU caring about this and the pros that are looking for this specific feature have already upgraded to the 16Pro/Max 😬