Apple reportedly developing a custom ultra image sensor for iPhone that will rival the human eye

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max feature a 48MP Fusion camera, a 48MP Ultra Wide camera, and the 5x Telephoto camera, available on both models.
Apple is advancing plans to integrate a new image sensor with dynamic range capabilities nearing human eye levels into future iPhones, as reported by a Weibo leaker. In July 2025, Apple filed a patent titled “Image Sensor With Stacked Pixels Having High Dynamic Range And Low Noise,” outlining a sophisticated sensor design that uses stacked silicon, multi-level light capture, and on-chip noise reduction to achieve up to 20 stops of dynamic range.
Hartley Charlton for MacRumors:
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For comparison, the dynamic range of the human eye is estimated to be around 20 to 30 stops, depending on how the pupil adjusts and how light is processed over time. Most smartphone cameras today capture between 10 and 13 stops. If Apple’s proposed sensor reaches its potential, it would not only surpass current iPhones but also outperform many professional cinema cameras, such as the ARRI ALEXA 35.
One of the most important parts of the sensor design is a system called a Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor (LOFIC). This allows each pixel in the sensor to store different amounts of light depending on how bright the scene is, all in the same image. With this, the sensor can handle extremely wide lighting differences, such as a person standing in front of a bright window, without losing detail in the shadows or highlights.
According to the Weibo leaker known as “Fixed Focus Digital,” the project is more than merely a patent filing at Apple. The company has reportedly already developed the sensor and could now be testing it in developmental hardware, suggesting that there are plans to bring it to a consumer device in the future.

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MacDailyNews Take: Bad news for Sony, but great news for future iPhone uses and even more differentiation between iPhones and the world of iPhone wannabes, knockoffs, and also-rans.
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