Apple might give the iPhone 16 Pro an important camera upgrade that, until now, was only available on their top-tier model this year, according to TF Securities International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The iPhone 15 Pro Max got a better periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, while the smaller Pro model had a standard zoom lens with 3x optical zoom, similar to the previous version. Kuo previously said that the iPhone 15 Pro Max was having production issues due to strong demand.
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Camera Upgrade for iPhone 16 Pro | Apple may equip the iPhone 16 Pro with a significant camera upgrade. |
| Current Camera Situation | The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a better periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. |
| Smaller Pro Model Camera | The smaller Pro model has a standard zoom lens with 3x optical zoom, similar to its predecessor. |
| Production Challenges for iPhone 15 Pro Max | The iPhone 15 Pro Max faced production challenges due to strong demand. |
| New “Tetraprism” Telephoto Zoom Lens | The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max might feature Apple’s new “tetraprism” telephoto zoom lens. |
| Telephoto Lens Upgrade | Unlike the iPhone 15 lineup, both models could have this upgraded telephoto lens. |
| Details of the Lens | The lens reflects light rays four times inside the iPhone body for a longer focal length. |
| Model Differentiation | Apple might replace the “Pro Max” model with an “Ultra” model, possibly limiting the improved camera to the top-tier model. |
| Price Increase | The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s price was increased by $100 compared to its predecessor. |
| Secrecy in Product Development | Apple keeps product details secret, and more information may only be revealed at launch events. |
| Delivery Delay for iPhone 15 Pro Max | Deliveries of the iPhone 15 Pro Max in the US and other regions were delayed to November due to high demand. |
In a recent blog post on Medium, Kuo predicts that the rumored iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will come with Apple’s new “tetraprism” telephoto zoom lens. This is different from the iPhone 15 lineup, where only the iPhone 15 Pro Max had the upgraded telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and a focal length of 120mm.
At the ‘Wonderlust’ launch event on September 12, Apple talked about how the 120mm tetraprism lens design would bounce light rays four times inside a glass structure within the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s body. They achieved the longer focal length by creating more space between the camera’s sensor and the lens, allowing light to travel farther before being captured.
But here’s the twist: Apple is also rumored to be replacing the “Pro Max” model with an “Ultra” model, suggesting that the improved telephoto camera might only be available on the top-tier model to set it apart from the Pro and Pro Max/Ultra models. This year, Apple raised the price of the iPhone 15 Pro Max by $100 compared to its predecessor.
Apple is known for keeping product details under wraps, so it might be a while before we get more information about the camera specifications of the iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max. They typically reveal specifications at launch events, and the successors to the iPhone 15 series aren’t expected for another year.
Kuo also mentioned that the iPhone 15 Pro Max had production challenges due to high demand. In his latest Medium post, he said that the main supply problem for the flagship phone is the tetraprism compact camera module (CCM). According to Kuo, the company improved the specifications to address issues with CCM yield. Deliveries of the iPhone 15 Pro Max in the US and other regions have been delayed to November because of the strong demand for Apple’s high-end smartphone.
