iPhone 16/Plus iPhone 16 vs waiting for SE4 - Camera question

[Kyrke]

I'm a longtime iPhone user who has never had top-notch iPhones. However, when I purchased a used iPhone 11 3 years ago, I realized how amazing the photos are. This year I hoped for the courage to purchase an iPhone 16 Pro but just can't justify spending $1,600+ CAD on it, even with the 5x zoom. I've thought about the iPhone 16, and am very tempted, but am also very curious about the impending, and obviously cheaper SE4. The trouble is, I don't know enough about cameras to judge the difference between the camera setup on my current iPhone 11, the current iPhone 16, and the expected SE4. I was hoping some experts out there might have some advice. For example, will a single-lens 48 MP camera be better than the 2-lens 12MP camera setup on the iPhone 11? How would it compare with the iPhone 16's 2-lens 48MP camera setup? I am clearly not a professional photographer, but I do want to be able to take pictures of my daughter playing hockey and all the other 'standard' photos people seem to take with their iPhones.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

 

[maerz001]

The cheapest would be to buy a point and shoot camera.

Other than that the SE was never a camera champ so the 4 probably won’t be either.

Maybe buy a 15 pro to save money

 

[JPack]

I had an iPhone 11. The 48MP sensor starting with iPhone 14 Pro/Max offered a big difference in detail and overall quality.

Nothing will be able to replicate the ultrawide lens, so you'll need a dual-lens phone to use it. Macro mode also relies on the UW lens.

 

[1rottenapple]

When the se3 was released day time pics were really great but low light suffered. My iPhone 13 mini camera is good enough for my needs, and I feel se4 should have a camera able to shoot as good as my 13. To me that’s enough and I hope that’s the case. But hard to say what camera will be on the se4 until it comes out. I would not buy a 16 at this point I just feel it’s not worth it. I’ll wait. I would spend close to spending $1k on a phone with 256gb no thanks. Not worth it and it’s not the money for me it’s the value because it won’t change my use case which is the same as when the iPhone 6 came out. But the se4 is the sweet spot as phones are good enough already these days. Just need my satellite capability 😬

 

[Kyrke]

The cheapest would be to buy a point and shoot camera.

Other than that the SE was never a camera champ so the 4 probably won’t be either.

Maybe buy a 15 pro to save money

I appreciate your thoughts, and that's a fair point about the 15 Pro. Embarrassingly it didn't cross my mind. As to the point and shoot camera, I agree it would be the cheapest, but I honestly can't picture (no pun intended) how it would actually work in real life. As they say, the best camera is the one you have with you, and that is all but assured to be my iPhone.

 

[1rottenapple]

Why do you need a pro by the way? AI? We have a 15 in the house and it’s so nice. I love the color and the camera is excellent. Battery is also great. Plus no AI.