What is the function of the small hole next to the iPhone camera?

Many iPhone users may be familiar with the small hole located next to the rear camera cluster, but few really understand its function.

Tiny black dot on iPhone camera. Photo: SlashGear .

Compared to the first iPhone launched in 2007, Apple's latest iPhone models have shown a remarkable development of this smartphone line. However, in general, the evolution of the iPhone mainly focuses on small upgrades, aiming to improve the user experience.

The iPhone camera system also shows a similar trend. Six years since the iPhone 11 series, Apple has remained steadfast with the familiar triangular triple-camera design. Even on the latest iPhone 16 Pro, the "Apple House" still maintains this design and only improves the hardware and refines the image processing capabilities.

In the triple lens cluster (depending on the model), accompanied by the LED flash and LiDAR sensor (on the Pro models), users can easily notice a tiny hole nearby. Notably, this small hole has appeared on iPhones since the iPhone 5.

This hole is actually a microphone, and this is just one of four microphones equipped on the device. In particular, the microphone on the back plays an important role in capturing directional sound more effectively when recording video , helping to improve the sound quality of videos shot with iPhone.

This small hole has appeared on iPhones since the iPhone 5 series. Photo: SlashGear.

Every smartphone needs a microphone to perform the recording function, and in fact, most modern devices are equipped with more than one. As for Apple, the flagship iPhone models have integrated 4 microphones in different positions since the iPhone XS series.

specifically, there are two microphones located at the bottom of the device, near the speaker grille, which play a major role in phone calls thanks to their convenient location near the user's mouth. In addition, another microphone is located just above the front camera, and the fourth secondary microphone is located on the back, as mentioned. This diverse microphone distribution helps the iPhone optimize its audio recording capabilities in many different situations.

In addition to the basic function of a microphone, the small hole also plays an important role in eliminating ambient noise when users are talking. Thanks to the combination of noise frequency recognition software and special algorithms, the iPhone can eliminate distracting sounds, helping users communicate more clearly even in noisy environments.

Not stopping there, the small hole behind the iPhone also has the effect of filtering noise for user commands when activating the virtual assistant Siri.

With the iPhone 16 series, Apple has officially introduced a completely new "studio-quality microphone" system. This technology allows users to record Spatial Audio - a more vivid, multi-dimensional recording method, providing a realistic and deep experience.

This advanced microphone system also comes with Audio Mix, which allows users to flexibly adjust multiple audio sources in a single recording. When combined with the iPhone's already excellent noise reduction capabilities, users can confidently shoot semi-professional videos without relying on external microphones.

Source: https://znews.vn/lo-nho-canh-camera-iphone-co-tac-dung-gi-post1566714.html