Although iPhones have improved through their features and specifications, only a select few models have iPhone with 3 cameras on back. This article will go over what iPhone has 3 cameras and why they have them in the first place. Read on to know more.
What iPhone Has 3 Cameras?
Over the years, Apple has improved its iPhone model’s specs, including its cameras. The first iteration of iPhones, up until the iPhone 7, all had single-lens cameras. Later, they switched to dual-lens cameras on the bigger iPhone 7 Plus. Typically, all flagship Plus, Pro, and Pro Max models had multiple-camera lenses.
1 What iPhone Has 3 Cameras?2 Why Do iPhones Have 3 Cameras?2.1 iPhone 12 Pro2.2 iPhone 12 Pro Max3 Final Thoughts
Apple had their first 3-camera iPhone in the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max. Released in 2019 along with the base model iPhone 11, the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max featured three cameras on their rear. Compared to the iPhone 11, they were more expensive but had lesser camera performance. A year later, Apple released the iPhone 12 lineup. This time, it featured the first iPhone models with OLED displays and 5G support. However, it followed the same pattern: the Pro and Pro Max were only the 3-camera iPhone models. As of 2022, here is the list of iPhone models with three cameras:
iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Pro Max
Why Do iPhones Have 3 Cameras?
iPhones with three cameras will include the main camera with wide lens capabilities, an ultra-wide lens, and a telephoto lens. As mentioned earlier, the first iPhone models with three rear cameras were the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max. It allowed 0.5x ultra-wide images that could capture one entire side of a room or two times zoom on the telephoto lens for close-ups or portraits. The iPhone 12 Pro had the same range, but the Pro Max had 2.5x zoom capabilities. Also, the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have even more extensive coverage, with 3x optical zoom. To put into detail, here are the camera specifications for both the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max:
iPhone 12 Pro
12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1.4µm, dual-pixel PDAF (phase detection autofocus), OIS (optical image stabilization) 12 MP, f/2.0, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4”, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.4, 120°, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6” TOF (time-of-flight) 3D LiDAR (light detection and ranging) scanner (depth)
iPhone 12 Pro Max
12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1.7µm, dual-pixel PDAF, sensor-shift stabilization (IBIS) 12 MP, f/2.2, 65mm (telephoto), 1/3.4”, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2.5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.4, 120°, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/3.6” TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
Based on the camera features above, the iPhone 12 Pro Max gives you more advanced sensors, zoom capabilities, and bigger apertures. Adding a third lens allows users to capture more defined photos, which experienced photographers and camera professionals notice. Overall, iPhones have three cameras, mainly for aperture control, zoom range, and other image details.
Final Thoughts
iPhones are mostly known for their ease of use, features, and camera quality. However, its Pro and Pro Max models are top-notch regarding camera specifications and image quality. This is because of the addition of a third camera lens, which is responsible for more control of image and capture details. Hopefully, this guide helps you know what iPhones have three cameras and why they put a third camera on their flagship models.
