Apple launches iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max with 48MP main cameras

Apple has launched four new iPhone models at its annual Apple Event in Cupertino, California overnight, with the new iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, as well as the premium iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, available from next week.

Despite all the cutting-edge tech inside the new smartphones, most of the attention at launch has been on the price for the new devices, which start at $1399 for the basic model, and up to a whopping $2769 for the 14 Pro Max with 1TB of storage. 

Apart from the cost, the new pill-shaped cutout for the smartphones' front-facing cameras is a standout, as well as being a neat trick for managing alerts.

Apple is calling the cutout 'Dynamic Island', and the feature works alongside the operating system to obscure the cutout as much as possible while also delivering notifications, alerts, and other functionality.

Of the four new smartphones, the two Pro devices are probably of most interest to photographers, and they come in two sizes: the standard Pro is 6.1-inches, while the Max and Plus versions measure 6.7-inches. They are both powered by Apple's latest A16 Bionic chip, and feature 'always on' displays. 

Both of the new 14 Pro models feature 48MP 'Quad Pixel' sensors that are 65% larger than those inside the iPhone 13 Pro modules, and both use Apple's Photonic Engine, which Apple says improves image quality.

The main camera utilises an optically-stabilised 24mm (full-frame equiv.) focal length with an f/1.78 aperture. This module also features a 2x digital zoom mode that uses a 12MP section of the 48MP sensor to create it's digitally zoomed images. In addition, there's also a 13mm (equiv.) ultrawide 0.5x module with an f/2.2 aperture and a 77mm (equiv.) 3x telephoto module.

Each of the camera modules can capture uncompressed Apple ProRAW, including the main camera at the full 48MP resolution. 

For video, specs max out with Cinematic mode up to 4K/30p (HDR), also with 24p as an option. In addition, the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max feature an Action Mode (2.8K/60p) digital stabilisation system that uses digital cropping to correct movement. There's also Dolby Vision HDR 4K/60 and ProRes 4K/30p (with the 128GB models limited to ProRes 1080/30p).

All iPhone 14 models have an Ingress Protection of 68 (IP) which means that the devices can be submerged in up to 6m of freshwater for up to 30 minutes, but they are not waterproof.

The higher end iPhone 14 Pro models will come in four different colours: black, silver, gold, and a new purple. 

iPhone 14 Pro will be available on September 16, and starts from $1749. Colours include black, silver, gold and purple, while iPhone 14 Pro Max starts from $1899. The 'standard' iPhone 14 will be available on September 16 starting at $1399. More info at Apple.com.

You can watch the full Apple Event recording below.