Post Contents
Apple is gearing up to launch its highly anticipated iPhone 16 series in early September, featuring four models: the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. As the launch date approaches, leaks and rumors continue to surface, providing a glimpse into what the new series may offer. The latest reports suggest that the iPhone 16 series will still lack support for 8K video recording—a feature that has been available on Android flagships for years.
No 8K Video Recording on iPhone 16 Series
When Apple introduced a 48 MP main sensor with the iPhone 14 Pro models, many expected the iPhones to finally support 8K video recording. However, 8K recording requires a resolution of 7680 x 4320 pixels, which translates to about 33.2 million pixels—a significant upgrade from the 12MP sensors used previously.
While the 48MP sensor does meet the resolution requirement for 8K, there are other challenges preventing Apple from enabling this feature. One of the main concerns is the immense storage needed for 10-bit ProRes video recording in 8K resolution. Apple’s 10-bit ProRes format, known for its high quality, consumes a significant amount of storage. For instance, recording one minute of 10-bit ProRes video in 1080p takes up around 1.7GB, while 4K video can reach up to 6GB per minute.
Storage Concerns for ProRes 8K Video Recording
According to a TrendForce report, Apple is likely to increase the base storage for the iPhone 16 Pro models to 256GB. However, even with this upgrade, 256GB is still deemed insufficient for 10-bit ProRes recording at 8K resolution. The storage limitations of the base variants make 8K recording impractical for most users, and it is one of the reasons Apple may not offer 8K recording on the upcoming iPhones.
Upgrade to 4K 120fps Video Recording
While 8K recording might not make the cut, there is a significant upgrade in the video recording capabilities of the iPhone 16 Pro models. Sources cited by 9To5Mac suggest that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will support 4K 120fps recording. This marks a notable improvement over the 4K 60fps recording supported by the iPhone 15 series, allowing for smoother and more detailed slow-motion videos.
Introduction of New Image Format: JPEG XL
In addition to the video recording enhancements, the iPhone 16 series is rumored to support a new image format—JPEG XL. Developed to provide better compression and image quality than the older JPEG format, JPEG XL is seen as the next-generation image format.
Apple has already added support for JPEG XL in iOS 17 and macOS 14, but the iPhone 16 series might be the first to integrate this format directly into its camera system. This would make Apple the first smartphone manufacturer to adopt JPEG XL natively for capturing images, potentially setting a new standard for image quality and storage efficiency.
