Apple has done the impossible: the iPhone Air has a portrait mode without a second camera
By ForGeeks
Apple has unveiled the iPhone Air, and it’s the company’s first smartphone with a single main camera to feature full «next-generation» portrait functionality. Prior to this, devices with a single module could only shoot portraits with limitations.
How it used to be
Portrait mode appeared on the iPhone XR and was its key feature: the smartphone could create blurry backgrounds with a single camera. But it only worked with people and animals — you couldn’t take pictures of objects like flowers or food.
Analogous restrictions applied to the iPhone SE (2020 and 2022) and the recent iPhone 16e.
What’s changed in the iPhone Air
The iPhone Air now gets a full suite of portrait shooting capabilities, similar to what appeared in the iPhone 15:
- portrait photos of any subject, not just people and pets;
- depth of field adjustment;
- change focus after shooting;
- automatic depth capture even in normal photo mode;
- HDR support for portraits;
- improved detail, vibrant colors and enhanced low-light quality.
The biggest new feature — the ability to switch a regular shot to portrait mode after it’s been taken. This eliminates the risk of missing a moment by forgetting to activate the mode beforehand.
When the iPhone Air will be released
Pre-orders for the iPhone Air are already open, with sales scheduled to start on Friday, September 19.
