According to Taiwanese market research firm TrendForce, the iPhone 14 Pro models will be equipped with a 48-megapixel camera. This value refers to the wide-angle lens, which has 12 megapixels on the iPhone 13 Pro.
Several Sources, including analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who expects the improved camera to support 8K video recording, have already talked about a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera for the iPhone 14 Pro models. Simply increasing the megapixel count of a smartphone camera while keeping the size of the image sensor the same results in smaller pixels, which can capture less light, resulting in lower quality photos in low light. The solution to the problem, Kuo said, is that the iPhone 14 Pro models will support both 48 megapixels and 12 megapixels, which will likely be achieved using a process known as pixel binning.
iPhone 14 Pro: Pixel Binning could be the solution
Pixel binning is already used on some Android phones like the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. It combines data from multiple smaller pixels on the camera's image sensor into a "superpixel" to improve sensitivity in low light. Pixel binning would allow the iPhone 14 Pro models to take high-resolution 48-megapixel photos in bright light and 12-megapixel photos in low light that are still of higher quality. Apple is expected to announce four new iPhone models in September, including a 6.1-inch iPhone 14, a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max, a 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro and a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max, with the latter two devices set to receive the improved camera. (Photo by hadrian / Bigstockphoto)