Apple's upcoming flagship might feature a tetraprism lens technology
Anticipated to debut next year, the iPhone 16 series has already become the subject of numerous leaks, offering a glimpse into what Apple’s forthcoming flagship phones may entail. Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has recently reaffirmed expectations, asserting that both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature Apple’s tetraprism telephoto lens, promising enhanced zoom capabilities. This follows Apple’s introduction of a tetraprism lens system with the iPhone 15 Pro Max this year, enabling a 5x optical zoom. In contrast, the smaller iPhone 15 Pro supports a 3x optical zoom.
In a recent blog post, the TF International Securities analyst disclosed that Apple is poised to integrate a tetraprism camera into the iPhone 16 Pro in the coming year. In the iPhone 15 lineup, only the iPhone 15 Pro Max was equipped with a new telephoto lens boasting up to 5x optical zoom and a focal length of 120mm. The iPhone 15 Pro featured a 12-megapixel telephoto camera offering 3x zoom, aligning with Kuo’s previous assertions.
Kuo predicts that the inclusion of a tetraprism camera in the iPhone 16 Pro would result in a substantial 160 percent year-on-year growth for Apple’s smartphones, particularly with both models featuring the camera in 2024. Largan, the exclusive supplier of quadruple reflex periscope camera lenses for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, initially faced a production yield of only 40 percent. However, Kuo reports a significant improvement, with Largan achieving a yield rate of 70 percent or higher.
Furthermore, Kuo suggests that Apple and Huawei are set to become the fastest-growing brands in global periscope camera smartphone shipments in 2024. Largan is expected to be the primary supplier of periscope lenses for both Apple and Huawei in 2024. Notably, Huawei’s upcoming P70 series is anticipated to feature periscope cameras.
In addition to advancements in camera technology, the iPhone 16 Pro models may see upgrades in display specifications. Recent reports indicate that Apple could introduce a 6.27-inch display for the iPhone 16 Pro and a 6.86-inch display for the iPhone 16 Pro Max. The Pro models may adopt 120Hz displays based on low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) technology. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models are expected to maintain 6.12-inch and 6.69-inch displays with a 60Hz refresh rate, respectively.