Apple iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max Photo Feature Breakdown

Apple has just announced its most powerful smartphones ever. The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are sleek, durable pieces of technology with an advanced camera system designed to please photography lovers. With a Super Retina display and a powerful Apple-designed A13 Bionic chip to ensure optimal performance without draining the battery, the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max were conceived with photographers and filmmakers in mind.

Both models, which hit stores on September 20, are available in four finishes—including a new midnight green. With a textured matte glass back and polished stainless steel band, these iPhones are made to last. Apple is calling the glass used its toughest ever and states that the phones are water-resistant up to 4 meters (about 13 feet) for 30 minutes. They can even withstand the all too common coffee and soda spills.

But it's really in image-taking that these iPhones stand out from the crowd. The new triple-camera system provides a pro-level camera experience with an Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto lens. There are also marked improvements in night photography, which is most likely a response to Google's Night Sight feature. And, for filmmakers, the smartphones shoot brilliant 4K video with extended dynamic range and cinematic video stabilization. When taking video, there's the option to zoom between each of the three cameras. At the same time, the iOS 13 operating system is packed with powerful editing tools and filters that make it easy for anyone to make professional-looking videos and photos.

“iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are the most powerful and advanced smartphones we have ever made. They are packed with sophisticated technology that pros can count on to get their work done, and for anyone who wants the very best device made, even if they are not a pro,” says Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “iPhone 11 Pro has the first triple-camera system in iPhone and is far and away the best camera we’ve ever made, it provides our customers with great range of creative control and advanced photo and video editing features in iOS 13.”

So what exactly do each of the three cameras provide users? Let's break them down to see how the Ultra-Wide, Wide, and Telephoto cameras unlock new creative capabilities.

Great for architecture or landscape photography, the Ultra Wide camera enables you to capture four times more of any scene. With a ƒ/2.4 aperture and 120° field of view, it's also perfect for taking action video. The Wide camera has a ƒ/1.8 aperture and 100 percent Focus Pixels. In low-light situations, Night mode can be activated for more natural colors and less noise. Alternatively, the Telephoto camera features a larger ƒ/2.0 aperture to capture 40 percent more light—compared to the iPhone X series—for better photos and videos.

Apple has also integrated technology that results in more natural-looking photographs. This includes Smart HDR, which “uses advanced machine learning to recognize subjects in the frame and intelligently relight them for more natural-looking images with greater detail.” The new True Tone flash is over 30 percent brighter, making for flawless, color-accurate skin. And for the first time, thanks to the new camera interface, you'll be able see and capture areas outside the frame.

When it comes to the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max's front-facing camera, Apple doesn't disappoint. The True Depth camera has 12 megapixels and a wider field of view to capture selfies. It also benefits from the same advanced bokeh and Depth Control in Portrait mode as the rear cameras, as well as six effects for Portrait lighting. You can even take expressive selfie videos thanks to its capability to take 4K video at up to 60 fps and 120 fps slo-mo.

iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max will be available in 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB models in midnight green, space gray, silver, and gold starting at $999 and $1,099, respectively. Pre-orders begin on September 13 at 5 am PDT on Apple.com. On September 20 the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max will be available in Apple Stores, Apple Authorized Resellers, and select carriers in the U.S. and over 30 other countries.