Mobile photography has reached new heights with the launch of the iPhone 15. Beyond the Pro models, Apple has included a 48MP camera system in the entry-level models. Although these cameras have the ability to capture images at this high resolution, they default to taking 24MP photos to achieve the best balance in various aspects. Do we want to unlock the full potential of our new iPhone 15? Let’s see how to take 48 MP photos on the new iPhone 15.
Maximum quality for when we need all the megapixels
Last year, Apple surprised the world by launching its iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max with a 48MP primary camera, enabling ProRAW captures. Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 retained a 12MP primary lens. However, with the arrival of the iPhone 15, all models now feature 48MP primary cameras. While only the Pro models offer the ProRAW mode, all can use the new 48MP HEIF Max mode.
Recalling that Apple explained the reasoning behind the cameras of the iPhone 15, the HEIF Max 48MP mode provides high-resolution images with significantly smaller file sizes, around 5MB. This is ideal when we are seeking optimal image quality without occupying too much storage space. Setting up this option is as easy as following these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Go to Camera.
- Tap on Formats at the top.
- Enable the ProRAW or Resolution Control option. On the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, it will appear as Resolution Control.
- Choose HEIF Max (up to 48MP) as the default option.
Then, capturing images in 48MP requires the following steps:
- Open the Camera app.
- At the top, tap the HEIF MAX button and ensure it is not crossed out.
- Using the 1x zoom, as otherwise, the setting will revert to 12 or 24 MP, take a photo. Please note that Live Photos are not compatible with the HEIF Max mode.
The inclusion of this capability in the iPhone 15 is undoubtedly great news for our photos. It’s true that we may not always want an image of that quality, but knowing that we have the option to capture even the smallest detail is something to keep in mind.
