Anticipated Enhancements to Camera Features in Apple iPhone 16 Pro & Pro Max with Novel Ultra-Wide Angle and Telephoto Lenses
Apple fans can look forward to significant advancements in the camera department with the impending release of the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, as reported by Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst from TF Securities International. Kuo discloses that Apple is set to elevate the ultra-wide angle camera on this year’s Pro models, while the smaller iPhone 16 Pro will feature the tetraprism telephoto camera setup previously seen in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Further, the iPhone 17 series is expected to debut with an improved selfie camera, promising a comprehensive transformation of the entire camera system.
Transitioning To 48MP Sensor
A key highlight of the camera upgrades includes a shift from a 12-megapixel sensor to a robust 48-megapixel sensor for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Kuo explains that despite the higher megapixel count, the sensor will output 12-megapixel images through pixel binning, ensuring enhanced image quality compared to their predecessors, the iPhone 15 Pro models.
Taiwan-based Genius Electronic Optical emerges as a pivotal player in these enhancements, positioned to supply the ultra-wide angle lens for the iPhone 16 Pro models. The company is on course to manufacture the tetraprism telephoto lens for the smaller iPhone 16 Pro model, ensuring parity in optical zoom performance with the larger Pro model.
Last year’s iPhone 15 Pro introduced an upgraded telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, and leaks suggest a continuation of this functionality in the iPhone 16 Pro, complemented by an increased display size of 6.27 inches. Kuo foresees a notable increase of 5 to 10 per cent in user upgrades when the iPhone 16 Pro hits the market.
Plans For iPhone 17 Series
Looking ahead to the iPhone 17 series, Kuo anticipates a substantial enhancement in the selfie camera department. The transition from a 12-megapixel sensor with a 5P lens to a 24-megapixel camera with a 6P lens promises a considerable boost in image quality. Kuo emphasizes the positive impact on Genius Electronic Optical’s revenue, as the price of a 6P lens is estimated to be 100 to 120 per cent higher than the current 5P lenses.
In a related report, it’s suggested that Apple might incorporate an Action button across all four models in the iPhone 16 series. This button, initially exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, is rumoured to be capacitive, employing force sensor feedback similar to TouchID sensors on older iPhones and the Force Touch trackpad found on MacBooks. The iPhone SE 4, expected in 2025, is likely to feature this updated Action button as well.