Since iPhone 11, iPhones have always used the same 12MP f/2.2 front-facing camera, but it looks like the iPhone 14 will finally bring a minor spec change that could improve selfie-taking capabilities.
According to prolific Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the next family of iPhones will receive two key front-facing camera upgrades. These are set to be a larger aperture on the lens, as well as the addition of autofocus.
Kuo says the f-stop will change from f/2.2 to f/1.9, a change that will widen the aperture a bit. As a result, more light will reach the sensor, making images a bit brighter, as well as allowing for a shallower depth of field.
iPhones didn't have autofocus in the past, though they did have software solutions that essentially did the same thing. However, hardware autofocus will provide a more convenient and natural effect, and will also work better for video calls and live streaming applications, according to Kuo.
(1/2) The front camera of four new iPhone 14 models in 2H22 would likely switch to AF (autofocus) and around an aperture of f/1.9 (compared to the iPhone 13's fixed point FF (focus)) and f /2.2). April 19, 2022
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Analysis: a necessary improvement
It's somewhat surprising that Apple still doesn't offer traditional autofocus for its iPhone's selfie cameras, as it's a useful feature that many phone makers use a lot, but it's not vital for iPhone front cameras because you'll usually be holding your phone the same distance from your face each time you take a photo.
Additionally, the depth detection effect creates a natural background blur in Portrait mode, making autofocus less necessary.
So autofocus on the iPhone's front cameras will be useful for some people, but won't result in a dramatic improvement in selfie quality for users. The improved lens will have more of an effect for this, though again the aperture isn't a massive change.