Looking solely at the main specifications, the iPhone 15 has the same main camera as the 15 Pro Max, both boasting a 48-megapixel resolution, but the standard iPhone 15 is inferior to the higher-end model in terms of its 5x optical zoom telephoto lens.
According to PhoneArena, Apple equipped the iPhone 15 Pro/15 Pro Max with a 48-megapixel sensor, but the four-pixel group of the iPhone 15 is 22% smaller than that of the iPhone 15 Pro/15 Pro Max. The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max cameras are 1/1.28 inch with a pixel size of 1.22 micrometers, while the iPhone 15 is 1/1.56 inch with 1.0 micrometers respectively.
The 48 MP camera sensor of the iPhone 15 (left) and 15 Pro Max. Image: iFixit
In theory, a larger sensor would have an advantage over a smaller one because the larger surface area allows it to capture more light, which is especially useful in low-light conditions. Similarly, larger pixels can let more light pass through.
According to iFixit, experts also placed the camera sensors under a microscope for a close-up comparison of the internal components, including the cameras. The four-pixel cluster on the iPhone 15 is approximately 22% smaller than that of the 15 Pro Max. The higher-end model therefore offers significantly better low-light photography capabilities.
The main camera on the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max also allows users to switch between different focal lengths when shooting, including 24 mm (1x zoom), 28 mm (1.2x), and 35 mm (1.5x). The regular version only has two options: 1x and 2x (digital zoom achieved using a 48-megapixel sensor).
Therefore, although the iPhone 15 Pro has a larger main camera sensor, increasing its chances of becoming the best camera phone of 2023, the iPhone 15's main sensor has the advantage of an f/1.6 aperture, better than the f/1.8 of the two higher-end models. This helps to narrow the gap in low-light photo quality compared to its two predecessors.
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