Triple-Lens Rear Camera

Wide Lens

There’s an upgraded 48-megapixel Wide lens on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, which uses second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization and which features a quad-pixel sensor. The lens features a 24mm focal length and an f/1.78 aperture.

To keep file sizes reasonable, the quad-pixel sensor combines every four pixels into a single pixel that’s equivalent to 2.44 µm, essentially turning the 48MP photo into a 12MP photo with impressive detail and low-light performance because the combined pixels allow for 4x more light. 

The quad-pixel sensor enables a new 2x Telephoto option that uses the middle 12 megapixels on the sensor for full resolution photos with no digital zoom. 

When in ProRAW mode, the iPhone is able to capture ProRAW images at the full 48-megapixel size for more detail, which Apple says enables new creative workflows for pro users. Third-party camera apps can also take advantage of the 48MP lens, capturing full-resolution images.

Ultra Wide Lens

There is a new 12-megapixel Ultra Wide lens with larger 1.4 µm pixels to provide sharper images with more detail, and to offer more detail for macro photos. 

The six-element lens features a 13mm focal length, f/2.2 aperture, and 120 degree field of view. 

Telephoto Lens

The improved Telephoto camera offers 3x optical zoom, which can be used alongside the 2x zoom enabled by the Wide camera. The six-element lens has a 77mm focal length with an f/2.8 aperture and optical image stabilization support.

Photonic Engine

The Photonic Engine is a new software feature that builds on Deep Fusion, applying it earlier in the imaging process to provide more detail, preserve subtle textures, and improve the color in the photo. 

Apple says that the Photonic Engine offers a “giant leap” for mid to low-light photo performance in photos across all cameras. Low-light performance is up to 2x better on the Wide camera, up to 3x better on the Ultra Wide camera, 2x better on the Telephoto camera, and 2x better on the front-facing TrueDepth camera.

Video Capabilities

The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max offer up to 4K video recording at 24, 25, 30, or 60 fps. HDR recording, ProRes video, slo-mo video, and time-lapse are all supported. Note that recording ProRes video in 4K requires at least a 256GB iPhone 14 Pro model. 

Apple added a new Action Mode that’s designed to provide smooth-looking video that ignores shakes, motion, and vibrations. Action Mode records at up to 2.8K at 60 frames per second.

Other Camera Features

• Adaptive True Tone flash – The flash has been redesigned with an array of nine LEDs that can change pattern based on the focal length of the lens. The flash is up to 2x brighter on Telephoto shots and it provides 3x better uniformity for Ultra Wide shots.
• Cinematic Mode – Cinematic mode is available in 4K at 30 fps and 4K at 24 fps.
• Macro Photography – The Ultra Wide camera on the Pro models can focus at 2cm, which makes it ideal for macro photos. You can take macro photos or macro videos, including slow motion and time-lapse.
• Smart HDR 4 – Recognizes up to four people in a scene and optimizes contrast, lighting, and even skin tones for each person so everyone looks their best.
• Photographic Styles – Photographic Styles are smart, adjustable filters that can do things like boost or mute colors without affecting skin tone. Styles apply selectively to an image, unlike a filter that’s applied to the entire image. Photographic Styles include Vibrant (boosts colors), Rich Contrast (darker shadows and deeper colors), Warm (accentuates golden undertones), or Cool (accentuates blue undertones). Tone and Warmth are customizable for each style, so you can get the exact look that you want.
• Night Mode – Takes a series of images over a few seconds and aggregates them together to allow for photography in extreme low lighting situations. Night Mode on the Pro models works with Portrait Mode thanks to the LiDAR scanner, and with all three lenses.
• Deep Fusion – Works in mid to low lighting conditions and brings out the texture and detail in the image. With Photonic Engine, it works even earlier in the image capturing process on the iPhone 14 models. 
• Portrait Mode – Keeps the subject of the photo in focus while blurring the background.
• Portrait Lighting – Changes the lighting of Portrait Mode photos with effects that include Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, and High-Key Mono.
• Panorama – Captures panoramic shots up to 63 megapixels.
• Burst Mode – Allows a series of images to be captured all at once, which is good for high action shots.