Google's Pixel phones have so far proven they're the best when it comes to low-light camera. But a new report claims Apple has a similar feature up its sleeve and we should see it this year.
Despite being branded as a generational upgrade over their predecessors, Apple's 2019 iPhone lineup will only make changes in a few segments. The biggest upgrades will be in the camera department. The company is developing its very own Night Sight feature for the next-generation iPhone lineup, according to a new report.
According to XDA writer Max Weinbach, who leaked the following information to EverythingApplePro on YouTube, the 2019 iPhone models will have a "dedicated night mode" for taking photos in suboptimal environments. Weinbach also claims that this will be better than similar features from Google, Huawei, or Samsung.
In his text to EverythingApplePro, Weinbach cited a source who says that in addition to a dedicated night mode that users can choose to activate manually, the new iPhones should be able to switch to night mode automatically at the appropriate times. The source doesn't sound totally confident with this leak, but it certainly makes sense as Apple is expected to focus heavily on camera hardware and software upgrades for this generation.
But having said that, it is about time Apple offered its own Night Sight competitor. Whether you like the effect offered by the Pixel or not, it's pretty impressive, and the iPhone simply can't match it right now.
With the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max, Apple introduced 'Smart HDR'. The feature is Apple's attempt at computational photography, an art that's gained popularity with Google's Pixel lineup. Smart HDR takes different elements from different photographs and combines them into a single 'best' image. It's an interesting take at computational photography, and if Weinbach's report is correct, then Apple will take it to a new level with a larger ISP on the 2019 iPhone lineup.
Even without a Night Mode, however, low-light performance on next-generation iPhone units should be improved with a third camera lens. Apple is also thought to be working on a new LED flash that will provide more light.
We expect the 2019 iPhone lineup to appear this fall - likely in September. Other features could include USB-C connectivity, two-way wireless charging, and louder stereo speakers.
