iPhone 14 Pro cameras: MISLEADING & DISAPPOINTING

We're HUGE fans of Apple and the iPhone, but the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max cameras are a huge disappointment. Much of the specs Apple bragged about in their presentation are misleading because Apple used math deceptively to overstate the capabilities of the camera. Tony Northrup covers all the new features in the iPhone cameras and tells you what you can ACTUALLY expect from them.

0:00 Introduction
0:54 iPhone 14 & iPhone 14 Plus Cameras
1:28 iPhone 14 Pro & iPhone 14 Pro Max Cameras
2:04 1600 nits!
2:45 Ultrawide 13mm lens
6:00 Main 24mm lens
7:41 48 megapixels, but not really
9:00 ProRAW
9:48 2X 48mm lens
11:20 77mm telephoto lens
13:03 Slow motion (240 FPS)
14:04 Action mode
14:39 Summary

[darylrudusky]

Lightning Port should have been replaced with USB-C, especially with the high-resolution video options that are available. Actually, USB-C should have been integrated on the prior iPhone 13 Pro Max for the same reason: high resolution video options...

[ssaini]

This video should be considered misinformation, very disingenuous. The massive 48MP sensor clearly has more detail, better separation, better dynamic range. 48 MP Pro RAW is amazing as well, cinematic mode has been upgraded to 4K, 2X zoom even though is a crop has excellent quality, stabilisation has also been improved. Low light photos are brighter with more detail, low light video has also been improved. The whole photo processing pipleline has been upgraded.
This is why the tech community is never take seriously, tons of video on this platform showing major improvement to the camera over last years iPhone 13 Pro

[Quoutub]

8:48 No, it's the opposite. Google does NOT use the 50 and 48 megapixel modes of their sensors. Google only uses the 12 megapixel mode and has disabled the 50 and 48 megapixel modes of their sensors. Nothing is scaled down. Charges from the subpixels are combined on the sensor, it's analog binning, not digital binning. Apple does NOT ignore the 48.8 megapixel mode of their sensor for Proraw or 2x zoom according to their presentation. So it's a completely different behaviour. According to Apple, the 14 Pro will use 12 megapixels at 2x zoom whereas the Pixel 6 Pro only uses 3 megapixels at 2x zoom (I have tested the 6 Pro).
Maybe the Pixel 7 Pro will unlock the high resolution modes of the sensors.

It's not clear whether there is still an option for 12 megapixel Proraw files (edit: yes, there is still an option for 12 megapixel Proraw), which would be better in low light.
It's also not completely clear whether Apple is using a Quad Bayer dual pixel sensor (four microlenses over eight subpixels) or Quad Pixel (one microlens over four subpixels) sensor. According to Apple, it's a Quad Pixel sensor, but that's likely wrong and rather a Quad Bayer dual pixel sensor because Quad Bayer sensors should produce sharper 49 megapixel results than Quad Pixel sensors and Apple hasn't mentioned Quad Pixel autofocus, which would deliver a better autofocus and also better depth maps. It wouldn't be the first time that the marketing of a smartphone company confuses Quad Pixel and Quad Bayer.

[danielundefined]

I've been listening to you for years, and you've made this video many times. Thanks for continuing to campaign for non-misleading camera specs! You are presenting it in the best and easiest to understand form. I always try to comment about this on tech videos I watch, but the sad truth is that it's a very technical and nuanced issue and most people simply lack the frame of reference to understand it, and that leads to no one caring about the issue. Also, EVERY brand does it, not just Apple. It's an uphill battle, and the hill is steep, but these specs are outright lies so good on you for keeping it up!

[V.D.L.]

Oh wow, none of the reviewers did what you just broke down. Very details and informative, can't wait to see the actual photo quality review. I usually upgrade phone every year thinking that I could get better photos, but not enough. 48 megapixel ProRaw seems very nice, but I will have to check back your review.

[AmitUniyal]

I am using Samsung S22 Ultra, and believe me its telephoto Lens 3x and 10x are very useful in day to day world, especially for portraits shots !

[joshrose]

The title of the video should say “ Apple uses the same deceptive advertising as every other camera manufacture“

[Marlon_J]

I'm looking over your channel and can't find that follow up video. Hopefully you'll make one soon.

[observerby]

While the focal length is usually quoted as 35mm equivalent (real 2.9mm, 35mm equivalent 13mm), the f-number does not need to, in terms of measuring light going into the lens. As Tony mentioned, the formula for f-stop is N=f/D, with N being the f-stop, f is the physical focal length, D is the entrance pupil. If the Apple lens has physical focal length of 2.9mm, its pupil needs to be diameter of 1.32mm to achieve f 2.2. And this is likely the case - look at your Apple to see it yourself. However, above-mentioned theory is only from light-entry point of view, and there is another view that every photographer cares, that is depth of field. For depth of field, 2.9mm f2.2 lens is equivalent of 13mm f10. I hope I make it clear. Thanks Tony! (See 4:46)

[Greenmonkey]

9:31 you see no additional benefit of 48mp compared to 12mp? You really need to get your eyes checked old man, the first time I used the OnePlus 7 Pro 48mp Mode I was absolutely blown away, clearly having much more detail compared to my old s8+. When I upgraded further to 108mp on s20 ultra, I was blown away the same. 108mp and even 200mp makes a huge difference. Look for images of the Edge 30 in good light, it blows away any competition.

[speakingconstitution]

I can see how someone who changes phones every year would be extremely disappointed, however, for those like me whose iPhone is four years old the new pro max model is looking pretty enticing.

[SylvieSivan]

Wow. This is the information we need! I see thousands of channels almost advertising for Apple and repeating the same info over and over. You truly are the only person offering the truth. I ordered the iPhone 14 pro earlier today but upgrading from my iPhone XS. You're my new source of tech/Apple information from now on! Definitely worthy of subscribing to!

[Quoutub]

8:25 You should test the Samsung S22 Ultra. Reviewers have shown that the high resolution mode of the S22 Ultra delivers noticeably more detail than the 12 megapixel mode. There are also 48 megapixel sample images from the Huawei Honor View 20, which delivered noticeably more detail. It really depends on the manufacturer. Google completely ignores the 50 megapixel mode of the sensor whereas other manufacturers don't ignore the 50 megapixel mode. The image quality depends on the algorithm of the manufacturer.

[sawyer]

I just upgraded to the 14pro from the 8 plus and I am very disappointed. Anytime you have to zoom in, it is so blurry. It is also blurry on the front facing camera. My 8 plus took way better photos. Thinking of going back :(

[AutismFamilyChannel]

As with all keynotes, I wait until the product is released, tested and footage is uploaded by many different people, then I make a judgement call. Anything before that is highly speculative.

[trssho]

Tony was wrong on this. 48MP is showing substantial resolution improvement over the 12MP.

[I_OptimusPrime]

Appreciate this, I know when ever you make a constructive feedback you get heat but this is great. Apple should acknowledge these things.

[samgod]

You're missing the point of quad pixel sensor arrays. Just consider it a clean 12 MP low light sensor and that captures 48 MP images in bright light. There's no claim that the surface area of a quad sensor yields lower noise than one big one.

As far as zooming, avoid digital zoom on stills! Use digital zoom only when shooting videos. In that case, only lossless digital zoom (up to 4x shooting 1080p on my 7+). Basically, do the math that factors in your telephoto's focal length and footage size, and zoom before the crop on your sensor drops below the footage size.

No deception.

[Mgdneiegw]

I mean.. this info may be upsetting maybe for people who changes iphone every year… especially in the sense of “not a big improvement “ .. but for people like me who comes from iphone 11.. jumping to iphone 14 pro it’s a huge improvement in all aspects especially in the camera! just my the fact of removing that terrible blue reflection from the lens as the 11 has it’s already an improvement…

Even the “not so good camera” ..
sounds too picky for me.. anyways I have never understood why people need to change to every generation, I think it’s better to change every 2-3 years so you could feel the real change and rediscover new features

[yellowshuttle]

An f number is primarily a measure of light hitting the sensor, so it makes perfect sense to quote f1.78. That is in fact what it is. It is also customary to quote a 35mm equivalent for the focal length. The only thing you don’t get (compared to a full frame 24/f1.78) is the bokeh. I’m not sure there’s a whole lot of deception going on here, honestly. (45 MP, on the other hand — yeah, I don’t think the optics can resolve that well).