The upcoming flagship Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is set to feature the most advanced image sensor in its class, with credible industry chatter pointing to Sony’s IMX903 as the primary camera element. This detail comes from a well-known insider channel that frequently reveals high-profile camera hardware plans ahead of release cycles.
Reportedly, the IMX903 sensor will use a 1 / 1.14 inch imaging matrix. That size is just a touch smaller than the large sensors commonly found in current top Android flagships, which typically embrace inch-scale sensors for improved light collection. For comparison, the iPhone 14 Pro Max relied on a 1 / 1.28 inch sensor for its main camera, underscoring a notable upgrade path if the IMX903 arrives in the 15 Pro Max with its slightly larger-than-average chip design.
Multiple independent sources suggest that the IMX903 could outpace Samsung’s latest 200 MP HP2 sensor in real-world photography. Sony’s solution is expected to deliver roughly a 20% increase in light gathering capabilities despite the sensor’s smaller footprint, enabling better performance in challenging lighting. In addition, the IMX903 is anticipated to support a 14‑bit DNG RAW format, which would offer photographers greater latitude for post-processing and more nuanced color depth and tonal range in RAW captures.
Additionally, Ice Universe has indicated that the IMX903 could command a premium price well above that of Sony’s previously used IMX989 sensor, which powered the Xiaomi 13 Ultra. If this price premium holds true, the choice would underscore Apple’s push toward top-tier imaging performance as a differentiator in the premium segment, even if the physical sensor size is not the absolute largest on the market.
Which camera configuration will ultimately appear in the iPhone 15 Pro Max remains unconfirmed. There is speculation that Apple might retain the sensor setup used in the iPhone 14 Pro, leveraging trusted performance while benefiting from firmware improvements and lens refinements that accompany a year of software optimization. The decision could hinge on supply dynamics, device cooling considerations, and the balance between sensor size, pixel pitch, and overall image quality in typical iPhone usage scenarios.
Reports from tech commentary outlets note a broader tension in Apple’s camera roadmap, with some suggesting that the company has paused plans for a new iPhone SE within the near future. This potential shift would place continued emphasis on premium flagship devices that showcase the company’s most advanced imaging hardware and computational photography features, while keeping lower-cost lines relatively lean. In this context, the iPhone 15 Pro Max would serve as a showcase for Sony’s imaging technology, paired with Apple’s image processing pipeline and software optimizations to maximize end-user quality across a wide range of shooting conditions.