iPhone 15 Pro Lineup to Bring Significant Camera Upgrades – All We Know
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models are believed to include a 48-megapixel Sony image sensor, indicating an important upgrade in camera technology for Apple’s future lineups. This marks a substantial leap from the 12-megapixel main camera found in the iPhone 14. Multiple sources, including industry analysts Jeff Pu and Ming-Chi Kuo, along with Weibo user “Digital Chat Station,” have corroborated this development.
While the iPhone 15 will not use the Sony IMX-803 image sensor from the iPhone 14 Pro, it will opt for a different Sony sensor boasting enhanced capabilities. Intriguingly, Apple has explored various configurations for the base iPhone 15, including one with a rumored stacked camera sensor system that offers faster readout speeds and superior low-light imaging. Whether this system will make it to the final units remains uncertain. Notably, the Ultra Wide camera is not expected to receive significant upgrades, maintaining a 12-megapixel resolution and ƒ/2.4 aperture.
iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max Camera Upgrades
The upcoming iPhone 15 Pro will bring significant camera improvements, particularly to the Telephoto and Ultra Wide cameras. Contrary to previous rumors, the Main camera will continue to use the Sony IMX-803 image sensor found in the iPhone 14 Pro. However, both the Telephoto and Ultra Wide cameras will receive enhancements that result in superior image quality and higher-resolution photos compared to the 12-megapixel cameras on the iPhone 14 Pro.
The standout in the iPhone 15 lineup is unquestionably the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Insider sources have confirmed that this model will incorporate an entirely new periscope lens system for its Telephoto camera, aligning with earlier predictions made by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s zoom capabilities are expected to improve with the addition of periscope zoom technology, possibly increasing by 5x to 10x.
Periscope lens systems deviate from conventional camera setups, employing angled mirrors to redirect light toward the image sensor. This directional shift allows for optical zoom that surpasses the boundaries of conventional telephoto camera systems.
The decision to debut the periscope lens exclusively on the iPhone 15 Pro Max may be attributed to spatial constraints. According to insider information, the camera module in the iPhone 15 Pro Max is somewhat larger than those in the iPhone 14 Pro and the smaller iPhone 15 Pro. This size expansion accommodates the periscope lens hardware and necessitates adjustments to internal components, including the midframe assembly.
Apple is reportedly planning to release larger models of the iPhone 16 Pro in 2024, with screen sizes expanding to 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches. This adjustment will accommodate a periscope lens for both the Pro and Pro Max versions. Ming-Chi Kuo, a renowned analyst, has also suggested that the periscope zoom feature will be available across the entire iPhone 16 lineup, rather than being exclusive to the larger Pro Max model.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max will include periscope zoom capability along with the same 48-megapixel IMX-803 image sensor, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto cameras as the iPhone 15 Pro. It’s important to note that these details are based on pre-production information and may not exactly match the hardware of mass-produced units.
