The third camera on the iPhone 13 Pro is the Telephoto lens, part of Apple's Pro 12MP camera system. Understanding what is the 3rd camera on iPhone 13 Pro directly answers whether the phone's zoom and portrait capabilities fit your needs.
What is the 3rd camera on iPhone 13 Pro?
The third rear camera on the iPhone 13 Pro is the Telephoto camera in Apple's Pro 12MP camera system: Telephoto, Wide, and Ultra Wide cameras.
The iPhone 13 Pro triple camera system
Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro technical specifications list the rear camera system as a Pro 12MP camera system with Telephoto, Wide, and Ultra Wide cameras. The third camera is the Telephoto lens. Apple documents these rear cameras for iPhone 13 Pro:
- Telephoto
- Wide
- Ultra Wide
Apple’s specs page does not break out a separate on-device menu for the Telephoto camera; it is part of the Camera app’s lens switching on supported iPhone 13 Pro hardware. You can select among these three lenses directly in the Camera app to compare iPhone models and camera specs before deciding which lens suits your shot.
What the Telephoto camera does
The Telephoto camera is the zoom lens in the triple-camera system. It offers 3x optical zoom. It has optical image stabilization (OIS) to reduce shake and blur. With it, you can capture subjects at a distance with optical zoom, keeping image detail that digital zoom loses. This lens also works with the Wide and Ultra Wide cameras to enable Portrait mode with a blurred background, using depth data from the system to separate the subject. The third camera enables improved depth sensing for more accurate Portrait Mode subject separation and bokeh. The Telephoto camera works in conjunction with the other cameras to provide computational photography features like Smart HDR 4 and Night mode.
Supported devices
The Telephoto camera is exclusive to the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
What Apple's specs don't tell you
Official documentation also does not include:
- Exact Camera app menu path for selecting the Telephoto lens
- Any iPhone settings path, Android steps, app-specific steps, or carrier-specific instructions
- Supported iOS version limits
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 3rd camera on iPhone 13 Pro?
It is the Telephoto camera. It provides optical zoom and depth data for Portrait mode, working alongside the Wide and Ultra Wide lenses.
Does the third camera work in low light?
Can I use the Telephoto camera for video?
Yes, you can shoot video using any of the three rear cameras, including the Telephoto, by switching lenses in the Camera app.
Does the retrieved source list Android or carrier instructions?
No. It only covers Apple’s iPhone 13 Pro technical specifications.
Does Apple’s retrieved spec page show exact steps to use it?
No.
