iPhone 17 Pro Main Camera Sensor 'Smaller' Than iPhone 16 Pro Sensor

[MacRumors]

This year's iPhone 17 Pro models will feature a smaller main camera sensor than the one used in the Fusion camera currently found in iPhone 16 Pro models, according to Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station.

The Chinese leaker claims that Apple will adopt a 1/1.3" sensor for the 48MP main camera in the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, down from the 1/1.28" sensor used in the iPhone 16 Pro models. The claim is part of a wider leak allegedly revealing that both iPhone 17 Pro models will have three 48MP cameras for the first time.

The sensor size notation originates from an old system used for video camera tubes, where the fraction represents the sensor's "type" rather than its actual physical dimensions. That's why a 1/1.3" sensor is slightly smaller than a 1/1.28" sensor. (For comparison's sake, the 48MP Fusion camera on the standard iPhone 16 model uses a smaller 1/1.56" sensor.)

The difference however is minimal, with the existing 1/1.28" sensor offering a marginally larger surface area than a 1/1.3" sensor. In practical terms, this size difference is unlikely to result in a noticeable impact on everyday photography. Apple's shift to using a smaller main camera could represent a worthwhile trade-off, with potential advancements elsewhere in the camera system to maintain or enhance overall performance.

If the downgrade is true, Apple's shift from 1/1.28" to 1/1.3" could be due to space constraints caused by the rumored new camera bump design. As part of a return to using aluminum, Apple is believed to be using a larger rectangular-style camera bump on the iPhone 17 Pro models that is made from aluminum rather than glass.

Supply chain leaks have backed up a report by The Information about a camera design change. Leaks coming out of China suggest that the module is an "elongated oval shape," rather than a rectangular shape, with a smoother transition between the camera bump and the rear cover. The iPhone 17 series is expected to arrive around the usual mid-September time frame.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Pro Main Camera Sensor 'Smaller' Than iPhone 16 Pro Sensor

 

[Stenik]

Is that an upgrade or a downgrade?

 

[FloridaScrubJay]

Downgrade.

 

[Algr]

The use of that screwy terminology with improper fractions for sensor sizes is such a pain!

1/1.3"? 1/1.28"?

The irony is that you can't use a calculator to figure out the real size of the sensor. When a sensor is measured in inches, the number describes the width of an imaginary cathode ray tube that would have a sensitive area the same as the actual chip.

 

[Paapaa]

Is that an upgrade or a downgrade?

It's an downgrade in terms of sensor size, but an upgrade in terms of sensor size.

 

[zombierunner]

you know this design is starting to grow on me

 

[Algr]

I found it. For image sensors, one inch equals 16mm diagonal measurement. In normal reality, an inch is 25.4mm.

 

[PowerMacBook]

but, but, 1.3 is bigger than 1.28! 😂🤣😂

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

It's a downgrade in terms of sensor size, but an upgrade in terms of sensor size.

Huh ? That doesn’t make sense.

 

[HJM.NL]

Huh ? That doesn’t make sense.

It’s the same logic Apple uses… there is no logic only when you follow the money 💰

 

[Ad47uk]

this size difference is unlikely to result in a noticeable impact on everyday photography.

That is because most people don't seem to care that their videos/photos will be grainy in low light. They can put all the digital effects and what ever to try to get rid of the grain, but at the end of the day, the larger the sensor the better. I thought they had gone small enough with sensors as it is.

What people look at is how many megapixels and while it is important, there are other things to take in account. Okay, so a phone camera is not going to be used for professional photography, but even so it be nice to get some good shots .

 

[Ifti]

Apple will downplay this or market a downgrade as a new upgrade

 

[DrWojtek]

I don’t get what’s hard about this.
1/1 = 1.
1/5 = 0,20.

Clearly, 1/1.30 is smaller than 1/1.28. That’s not even high school math.

As to how these ”inches” correlates with real inches… whatever. We are interested in relative performance, not actual size of the sensor.

 

[Arbuthnott]

This year's iPhone 17 Pro models will feature a smaller main camera sensor than the one used in the Fusion camera currently found in iPhone 16 Pro models, according to Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station.

The Chinese leaker claims that Apple will adopt a 1/1.3" sensor for the 48MP main camera in the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, down from the 1/1.28" sensor used in the iPhone 16 Pro models. The claim is part of a wider leak allegedly revealing that both iPhone 17 Pro models will have three 48MP cameras for the first time.

The sensor size notation originates from an old system used for video camera tubes, where the fraction represents the sensor's "type" rather than its actual physical dimensions. In this system, a 1/1.3" sensor is slightly smaller than a 1/1.28" sensor, despite the denominator being larger. (For comparison's sake, the 48MP Fusion camera on the standard iPhone 16 model uses a smaller 1/1.56" sensor.)

The difference however is minimal, with the existing 1/1.28" sensor offering a marginally larger surface area than a 1/1.3" sensor. In practical terms, this size difference is unlikely to result in a noticeable impact on everyday photography. Apple's shift to using a smaller main camera could represent a worthwhile trade-off, with potential advancements elsewhere in the camera system to maintain or enhance overall performance.

If the downgrade is true, Apple's shift from 1/1.28" to 1/1.3" could be due to space constraints caused by the rumored new camera bump design. As part of a return to using aluminum, Apple is believed to be using a larger "rectangular" camera bump on the iPhone 17 Pro models that is made from aluminum rather than glass.

Supply chain leaks have backed up a report by The Information about a camera design change. Leaks coming out of China suggest that the module is an "elongated oval shape," rather than a rectangular shape, with a smoother transition between the camera bump and the rear cover. The iPhone 17 series is expected to arrive around the usual mid-September time frame.

Article Link: iPhone 17 Pro Main Camera Sensor 'Smaller' Than iPhone 16 Pro Sensor

Not a great explanation! And an apparently trivial change.

 

[Kylo83]

That’s a downgrade, also how would it record spacial video with the camera that way

 

[kiranmk2]

Please note that this article is wrong and needs correction. A 1.3” sensor is 0.02” BIGGER than a 1.28” sensor. It actually means 1.30” compared with 1.28”.

This is a pretty basic error. Please correct it!

I suggest you carefully reread the article again. The new sensor is 1/1.3" (1 divided by 1.3"). The post above yours explains this in more detail.

 

[klasma]

In this system, a 1/1.3" sensor is slightly smaller than a 1/1.28" sensor, despite the denominator being larger.

Why "despite"? Of course the value of a fraction is smaller when the denominator is larger. This is like saying "surprisingly, in this system, 1/2 mile is longer than 1/3 mile, despite 2 being smaller than 3". That's not "in this system", it's how fractions work.

 

[FlyingDutch]

A smaller sensor hardly is an upgrade.

 

[Arbuthnott]

I suggest you carefully reread the article again. The new sensor is 1/1.3" (1 divided by 1.3"). The post above yours explains this in more detail.

Yeah. Not a great explanation, and a pretty trivial change in any case.

 

[FlyingDutch]

Not a great explanation! And an apparently trivial change.

Trivial or not, a downgrade is a downgrade.

That’s a downgrade, also how would it record spacial video with the camera that way

We don’t know the actual camera settings. It is just a render…

I suggest you carefully reread the article again. The new sensor is 1/1.3" (1 divided by 1.3"). The post above yours explains this in more detail.

Fractions… he probably never heard of 😅

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

In the clash of marketing “thinner” spin vs. Physics, the latter wins every time.

 

[willzyx]

Samsung: Let's make a phone that folds out 2 ways.

Apple: Let's move the camera.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Huh ? That doesn’t make sense.

Wait until Apple spins it in the big reveal. The words will be different but then it will “make $en$e”. It all makes sense after Apple goes there.

See “lint magnet”, wobbly, broken tongues USB-C port on iPhone.

See “abomination”, ”fragmentation”, one handed use, pants with bigger pockets & man purses phablet form factors for iPhone vs. the “perfect” sizes at 4” and 3.5” before it (also “perfect” by the way).

See “gimmicky”, “my plastic already works fine everywhere” pay by phone.

See iPad 1 with no selfie camera making perfect sense not having one due to wobbly selfie videos and shooting nose hairs vs. iPad 2 adopting a selfie camera and that being the “make sense” main reason to upgrade.

See 1080p when Apple finally moved on from 720p and then 4K when Apple finally moved on from 1080p (and yes, 8K is next which, of course, "makes no sense" now just as 4K didn't and 1080p before it... until Apple makes the jump and then 8K will "make sense" too).

Etc.

The list of “makes no sense” becoming “makes sense” is LONG. Apple just needs to adopt or say it. Magically, it- whatever it is- will suddenly “make sense.” Often, whatever it is starts increasingly making sense as the rumors pile up and more start believing an Apple change is coming.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Apple will downplay this or market a downgrade as a new upgrade

The latter. Presumably, we’re getting back on the “thinner” train again… even if thinning means subtracting features or compromising quality of features. But hey look, “this one is slightly thinner than that one… buy now!”

 

[brofkand]

The cost reduced model. Nobody should buy this.