Apple improves the camera experience with each new generation of iPhone, but that doesn’t always translate to hardware changes. And it’s usually the rear-facing camera that gets the most attention. This means more frequent hardware and software updates than the front camera. But the iPhone 14 will bring a significant selfie camera upgrade, according to various reports.
One of them is the famous Apple Insider Ming-Chi Kuo, who has just released more details about the upcoming iPhone 14 selfie camera upgrade. If his information is correct, the iPhone 14 will offer the most significant selfie camera upgrade in years.
The current selfie experience
Released in 2019, the iPhone 11 brought the latest major update to the selfie camera hardware. The phone’s front camera featured a 12-megapixel sensor, replacing the 7-megapixel sensor that Apple had used since the iPhone 7. The front camera still featured the same f/2.2 aperture all these years. And the current iPhone 13 still has the same 12-megapixel f/2.2 aperture camera as far as hardware goes.
Apple has updated software over the years to improve the selfie experience. The iPhone 12 added Smart HDR3 support for HDR photos and video recording with Dolby Vision support. The same generation of iPhone also brought Night Vision and Deep Fusion support to iPhone 12. The successor brought cinematic mode video recording to selfie camera and Smart HDR 4 photography.
With all of this in mind, the reports that Apple will upgrade the selfie camera hardware for the iPhone 14 series are exciting. And if Kuo’s claims are correct, Apple is set to improve the photo and video experience on the front camera of all of its 2022 iPhones.
Ming-Chi Kuo took to Twitter a few months ago to say that all four iPhone 14 models are getting the same selfie camera update. It’s an exciting detail given that Apple won’t do the same with rear cameras. The iPhone 14 Pro models will get the biggest update, a 48-megapixel sensor for the main camera.
The big upgrade to the iPhone 14’s selfie camera
Kuo said at the time that the selfie camera would support autofocus and come with an f/1.9 aperture. As we just explained, the iPhone 13’s selfie camera has a fixed focus and an f/2.2 sensor.
The leaker said switching to autofocus will improve FaceTime/video calls and live streaming. The improved aperture will provide a better shallow depth of field effect in portrait mode.
Kuo is now back with more details about the iPhone 14 selfie camera. He wrote a blog to address all the new iPhone supply chain information.
The insider reiterates his prediction that Apple will use an autofocus selfie camera. Additionally, the camera will feature a VCM (Voice Coil Motor) which is the hardware element that brings autofocus to the camera. The iPhone 14’s selfie camera will also have a 6P lens instead of the existing 5P. It is a lens with six internal elements. The more elements, the better the quality of the photo.
Kuo listed the various parts makers that will supply components for the iPhone 14’s selfie camera. Sony will supply the sensor, while Genius and Largan will make the lens. Alps and Luxshare will share the VCM controls, while LG Innotek and Cowell will provide the CCM. It is the abbreviation of compact camera module.
A previous report also mentioned LG as one of the iPhone 14 selfie camera vendors. The same report noted that the new camera module will be more expensive. Kuo’s blog post notes that the 6P lens should be 20% more expensive than the 5P model.
More iPhone coverage: For more iPhone news, visit our iPhone 14 guide.
