Kuo: Solely iPhone 15 Professional Max to get a periscope zoom lens subsequent 12 months
We’re some two months away from Apple’s anticipated iPhone 14 launch occasion, however we already assume we all know the whole lot there’s to know in regards to the upcoming 4 handsets. Apple’s 2022 iPhone lineup will ship the largest differentiation between the non-Professional gadgets and the iPhone 14 Pro models. However the most costly handsets won’t get the telephoto lens improve some folks anticipated. The primary periscope zoom digital camera ought to hit the iPhone 15 sequence subsequent 12 months, however solely the Professional Max mannequin will get it.
Why does the iPhone want a periscope telephoto lens?
Each new iPhone digital camera technology brings over upgrades over the predecessor. It’s not simply the {hardware} that Apple retains bettering but in addition the software program expertise. The identical will occur with the iPhone 14 sequence this 12 months, the place the Professional fashions will get the iPhone’s first 48-megapixel extensive digital camera lens. And iOS 16 will possible carry over new software program options for the iPhone 14 cameras.
However Apple can’t enhance the optical zoom expertise on the iPhone with out including a periscope lens to the handset. That’s a digital camera bent at 90 levels contained in the cellphone, utilizing a prism and an extended lens to maneuver the sunshine to the sensor.
Android flagships have been utilizing periscope lenses for years. However not all of them. The Galaxy S22 Extremely is one such instance, the place digital zoom can go as much as 100x, delivering an enormous enchancment over the earlier Extremely fashions. However the common S22 fashions don’t characteristic periscope lenses.
With that in thoughts, the best reply is that the iPhone doesn’t want a periscope digital camera to ship a tremendous digital camera expertise. However the zoom lens is the sort of characteristic that Professional customers would possibly want. That’s why it is sensible to see the periscope digital camera hit the iPhone 15 Professional Max first.
This isn’t the primary time the Professional Max model would get a significant digital camera replace earlier than everybody else. The iPhone 12 Professional Max launched the iPhone’s first sensor shift extensive digital camera. Apple then used the identical tech for all of the iPhone 13 fashions.
iPhone 15 Professional Max could have a zoom benefit over the Professional
With periscope zoom lenses, it’s not as easy. These cameras occupy further area contained in the smartphone. Meaning battery capability may need to be sacrificed for the telephoto digital camera lens elements. Due to this fact, the Professional Max measurement makes essentially the most sense to get the improved zoom lens.
If Ming-Chi Kuo’s newest evaluation is correct, the iPhone 15 Professional Max will ship a greater zoom expertise than the common Professional, because of the periscope zoom lens. However Apple will carry the periscope digital camera to each iPhone 16 Professional fashions in 2024.
The analyst penned an extended report on Medium addressing the large winners of Apple’s change to periscope cameras. Unsurprisingly, Jahwa is on the record of suppliers, an organization that appeared a few times in iPhone 15 Pro periscope zoom camera rumors.
The report additionally offers the specs for the iPhone 15 Professional Max’s periscope digital camera. We’re a 12-megapixel 1/3” sensor, f/2.8 aperture, sensor-shift optical picture stabilization, and 5-6x optical zoom. The iPhone 16 Professional and iPhone 16 Professional Max ought to inherit the identical zoom digital camera a 12 months later.
Kuo additional notes that Apple’s adoption of periscope cameras ought to considerably increase digital camera elements’ gross sales for numerous iPhone suppliers. However a few of the elements Apple will want for periscope cameras may be fairly costly.
Moreover, Kuo says that the iPhone adoption of periscopes would possibly persuade Chinese language Android manufacturers to comply with. Chinese language smartphone distributors first launched periscope cameras, with Oppo and Huawei being among the many firms that already use the tech. Nevertheless, the iPhone would possibly considerably increase the quantity of zoom lens elements, as Apple’s flagship smartphone gross sales outperform rivals.
