Three Indian-origin engineers credited for their innovative contributions to Apple’s iPhone 16

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On September 9, 2024, at Cupertino Park in California, three Indian-origin engineers took the spotlight with their groundbreaking advancements in camera control and cutting-edge technologies during the launch of Apple’s iPhone 16, the company’s first AI-powered smartphone.

Piyush Pratik, Paulom Shah, and Sribalan Santhanam contributed to the phone’s advanced technology. Pratik, an IIT-Delhi gold medalist, introduced a new feature in camera control, showcasing a dedicated side button that allows users to take photos, adjust zoom, and switch modes with ease, according to a report in The Print.

Pratik began his career as an associate consultant at Bain & Company, where he worked for a year before earning an MBA from Stanford in 2019. He then joined Apple as a product manager, a position he still holds.

Recent iPhone updates include a return to the vertical camera layout for better spatial video, a new micro-lens display for brighter screens, and the “Dynamic Island” feature across models. The iPhone 16 also introduces a capture button for improved camera functions and a standard action button.

Shah, now the manager of camera hardware engineering, started as a camera design intern and currently leads the iPhone’s wide and telephoto camera design team. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Waterloo, completed in 2015.

Shah shared on LinkedIn: “Incredibly honored to be part of the iPhone 16 Pro keynote! Representing the camera team and Apple on a global stage is a dream come true. Grateful for this surreal experience and to everyone who made this possible.”

Santhanam, vice president of the Apple’s silicon engineering division, heads a team responsible for designing the A-series processors used in iPhones and other Apple devices. His career in the semiconductor industry spans several decades, beginning in the mid-1990s, with notable positions including a senior director role at Broadcom.

Santhanam joined Apple in 2008 as part of the company’s acquisition of PA Semi, a chipmaker whose technology was instrumental in shaping the processors for iPhones. His academic background includes a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1989 and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Anna University in Chennai.