iPhone 15 Pro Max Expected to Feature 5-6x Optical Zoom [Updated]

[macduke]

I really don't prefer using the iPhone Pro Max but I'll do it if the camera is a lot better. I was hoping for 8x optical but 6x is fine. From what I know being a photographer, they could probably make the aperture brighter if they keep the focal length down. That's probably the tradeoff we're seeing here vs. rivals. I mean, we know that Samsung can't do 10x well since they fake the moon, lol. I'm sure at 6x the image quality will be a lot better than at the equivalent focal length of competitors.

I bet for the 16 Pro Max in 2024 they increase the resolution of the telephoto. Then by 2025 they'll be able to fit it into the iPhone 17 Pro. I hope! Although I bet they could fit it if they really wanted to. Might have some small compromises to battery life? I bet over the next few years as we go through the recession, Apple finds ways to artificially get people to buy more expensive products like the Max to help offset the lower sales numbers from people who skip upgrade cycles because they were laid off, took a pay cut, etc. I'm still not unconvinced that this periscope lens will only be in an iPhone Ultra!

 

[T-Bob]

Well, if Apple is supporting the device with updates, why not?

They won’t be by then though will they. X might not even get next ios, the 7 was cut last year after all.

 

[Havoc035]

Than wait until 16 Pro just like me.

There are no guarantees that the 16 Pro will feature it. Also I'm on a much older device right now than you are so I won't be able to hold out any longer I'm afraid.

 

[erikkfi]

Nice, I hope the phone weighs 10 pounds since people don’t seem to mind how heavy they’ve gotten.

 

[robbietop]

I am still wondering who is doing all this Optical Zooming that we ABSOLUTELY must have it....

 

[the future]

The lenses on just about all smartphones are fixed focal lengths so to add an additional zoom level they'd have add an entirely separate camera assembly.

Those periscope lenses are real zooms, though, aren‘t they?

low light performance

Of course a larger sensor helps with this, but iPhone night mode is nothing to sneeze at.

btw: no issues fitting a RX100 in my pockets (don't do jeans though)

Really? Good for you! I briefly had a RX100 VI and couldn‘t make that work, at all. And since I needed a bag anyways, I might as well pack a small system camera.

Nice, I hope the phone weighs 10 pounds since people don’t seem to mind how heavy they’ve gotten.

Try to keep up with the rumours. 😉 Titanium enclosure is supposed to mitigate the weight problem.

 

[Lyrics23]

Nice, I hope the phone weighs 10 pounds since people don’t seem to mind how heavy they’ve gotten.

A periscope lens is made up of mostly just an empty tube. That’s certainly lighter than the battery that would otherwise fill the same space.

 

[acblue94]

While the iPhone currently maxes out at 3x optical zoom, rumors suggest that will change this year. The next-generation iPhone 15 Pro Max is widely expected to feature a so-called "periscope lens" that would allow for up to double the optical zoom.

In July 2022, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said a periscope lens would be exclusive to the high-end iPhone 15 Pro Max and enable 5-6x optical zoom. Periscope technology would be built into the Telephoto lens and allow for up to 6x zoom when shooting photos with the rear camera, without any blurriness or reduction in image quality.

With a periscope lens, light absorbed by the image sensor is bent or "folded," allowing for a greater distance between the camera elements within the compact design of a smartphone. This technology allows for increased optical zoom and is already used by some Android brands like Samsung, Google, and Huawei, with phones like the Pixel 7 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra offering between 5x and 10x optical zoom.

5-6x optical zoom would be a significant camera upgrade for the iPhone. Unfortunately, Kuo said the periscope lens would remain limited to the iPhone 16 Pro Max next year, meaning that the technology would only be available on the most expensive iPhone model for at least the next two and a half years or so.

Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 15 lineup in September. For more details, read our guide about iPhone periscope lens rumors.

Article Link: iPhone 15 Pro Max Expected to Feature 5-6x Optical Zoom

Both iPhone 15 pro and pro max are high end. How is the max the high end only now?

 

[Mr. Dee]

They won’t be by then though will they. X might not even get next ios, the 7 was cut last year after all.

Everything you said is assumption, until WWDC, we can come to that conclusion.

But so far, inside sources say the iPhone 8 and X will get iOS 17.
I am still on iOS 15.7 and will upgrade to iOS 16 after WWDC which will continue to get security updates for another year.
I will then upgrade to iOS 17 after WWDC 2024 which continue receive security updates for another year.
My iPhone 6s which no longer receives new iOS releases got a security update just recently for iOS 15.
So, yes, I could stretch it to fall 2025, but even if it doesn't, I don't mind upgrading when my device stops getting updates. But I do believing squeezing as much use out of it.

 

[wave84]

My uneducated guess:

The 3x on both pro models will become a 5x optical lens, now that the main sensor can take care of the 2x natively for portraits.

The newly introduced untra model will also have a periscope lens, capable of 10x optical

That would be absolutely terrible. It would mean that every picture taken between 2x - 5x would use digital zoom and, in effect, be worse than the previous iPhones. This accounts for probably like 95% of all zoom pictures taken. It is very rare where you would actually use a 5x.

A large zoom would be useful only as a separate, additional camera, not a replacement for the existing ones.
A good solution, imo, would be to use a very large sensor for the telephoto camera as well, just like the main one. So they could use the middle crop trick to "double" the zoom range.

 

[ckurt25]

It feels like Apple is putting out half features sometimes and this definitely feels like one. If Samsung can get up to 10X today, why is Apple shooting for 5-6X in 6 months? Feels like they're already planning on what the upgraded feature (10X) will look like on the 16 Pro Max, late in 2024 and then give the 5-6X to some of the 16s in 2024.

 

[poorcody]

Will the periscope lens be a fixed zoom, or an adjustable optical zoom?

 

[bradman83]

Those periscope lenses are real zooms, though, aren‘t they?

They are not. There isn't a smartphone on the market with a variable optical zoom. It's a simple matter of optics and physics. With DSLR and mirrorless cameras zoom lenses come with trade-offs. You can make them reasonably small, but that requires variable aperture sizes that get narrower as the zoom range extends. This means the camera takes in less light and requires longer exposures times the more you zoom in. Most manufacturers make zoom lenses with wide apertures that are constant throughout their zoom range, but these lenses are incredibly bulky and heavy and have limited zoom ranges for this reason.

Smartphone sensors already struggle with low-light conditions due to sensor size, and existing cameras have relatively wide apertures. It could theoretically be done but it would require either significantly narrower apertures that would hamper camera performance or it would require an optical assembly so bulky that it would be impractical for a smartphone.

Fixed focal length lenses, referred to as prime lenses, don't have this problem (at least not to the same extent as variable zoom lenses). Each camera on the iPhone and other smartphones is an individual prime lens.

 

[Lcgiv]

At that point, just hold out for 2 more years till 2027 for the iPhone XX

I’ll wait for the adult only XXX thank you

 

[Ralfi]

That’s too bad - having the iPhone 13, was hoping that after 2 generations, it would get a bump in optical zoom. Probably the main feature I look for now as there’s no other real benefit even after 2 years since these phones are so refined these days.

 

[kalafalas]

That would be absolutely terrible. It would mean that every picture taken between 2x - 5x would use digital zoom and, in effect, be worse than the previous iPhones. This accounts for probably like 95% of all zoom pictures taken. It is very rare where you would actually use a 5x.

A large zoom would be useful only as a separate, additional camera, not a replacement for the existing ones.
A good solution, imo, would be to use a very large sensor for the telephoto camera as well, just like the main one. So they could use the middle crop trick to "double" the zoom range.

That would be fantastic! I agree, ok new theory:

3x telephoto lens gets 48mp and also a new 6x native zoom option

Periscope is 10x and only for ultra model

 

[4odomi]

While the iPhone currently maxes out at 3x optical zoom, rumors suggest that will change this year. The next-generation iPhone 15 Pro Max is widely expected to feature a so-called "periscope lens" that would allow for up to double the optical zoom.

In July 2022, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said a periscope lens would be exclusive to the high-end iPhone 15 Pro Max and enable 5-6x optical zoom. Periscope technology would be built into the Telephoto lens and allow for up to 6x zoom when shooting photos with the rear camera, without any blurriness or reduction in image quality.

With a periscope lens, light absorbed by the image sensor is bent or "folded," allowing for a greater distance between the camera elements within the compact design of a smartphone. This technology allows for increased optical zoom and is already used by some Android brands like Samsung, Google, and Huawei, with phones like the Pixel 7 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra offering between 5x and 10x optical zoom.

5-6x optical zoom would be a significant camera upgrade for the iPhone. Following the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Kuo said the periscope lens would remain limited to the iPhone 16 Pro Max next year, meaning that the technology would only be available on the most expensive iPhone model for at least the next two generations of devices.

Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 15 lineup in September. For more details, read our guide about iPhone periscope lens rumors.

Article Link: iPhone 15 Pro Max Expected to Feature 5-6x Optical Zoom

Well I won't be upgrading until it's available on the normal Pro 😏

 

[4odomi]

I don't mind it's just going to be a Pro Max feature. It needs to stay exclusive based on what we pay for the Pro Max models. Perhaps, change the Pro Max model to iPhone Ultra.

It simply means the normal pro users won't be upgrading and there's only one loser in that scenario 😏

 

[4odomi]

What we need is "Dex" ( desktop experience ) and a pen - more zoom is nice but not needed.

Can we suggest you buy a different phone 😁

 

[4odomi]

If Apple wants me to upgrade from my 12 Pro, they’re going to need to offer a periscope lens on the non-Max iPhone Pro.

I would loooove that telephoto zoom capability on my smartphone, but I’m not going to move up to the Max to get it. Thing won’t fit in pockets — I don’t understand the popularity of these models.

People kid themselves, that they're computers 🤣

 

[4odomi]

While the iPhone currently maxes out at 3x optical zoom, rumors suggest that will change this year. The next-generation iPhone 15 Pro Max is widely expected to feature a so-called "periscope lens" that would allow for up to double the optical zoom.

In July 2022, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said a periscope lens would be exclusive to the high-end iPhone 15 Pro Max and enable 5-6x optical zoom. Periscope technology would be built into the Telephoto lens and allow for up to 6x zoom when shooting photos with the rear camera, without any blurriness or reduction in image quality.

With a periscope lens, light absorbed by the image sensor is bent or "folded," allowing for a greater distance between the camera elements within the compact design of a smartphone. This technology allows for increased optical zoom and is already used by some Android brands like Samsung, Google, and Huawei, with phones like the Pixel 7 Pro and Galaxy S23 Ultra offering between 5x and 10x optical zoom.

5-6x optical zoom would be a significant camera upgrade for the iPhone. Following the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Kuo said the periscope lens would remain limited to the iPhone 16 Pro Max next year, meaning that the technology would only be available on the most expensive iPhone model for at least the next two generations of devices.

Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 15 lineup in September. For more details, read our guide about iPhone periscope lens rumors.

Article Link: iPhone 15 Pro Max Expected to Feature 5-6x Optical Zoom

I have always bought a Pro, because of the telephoto camera, I just have to have it, the truth is, I have a need maybe once or twice a year to use it 🤣 I suspect 90% of users are similar. I'll happily stay with the 3x instead of buying a brick, which is the Max 😡

 

[T-Bob]

Everything you said is assumption, until WWDC, we can come to that conclusion.

But so far, inside sources say the iPhone 8 and X will get iOS 17.
I am still on iOS 15.7 and will upgrade to iOS 16 after WWDC which will continue to get security updates for another year.
I will then upgrade to iOS 17 after WWDC 2024 which continue receive security updates for another year.
My iPhone 6s which no longer receives new iOS releases got a security update just recently for iOS 15.
So, yes, I could stretch it to fall 2025, but even if it doesn't, I don't mind upgrading when my device stops getting updates. But I do believing squeezing as much use out of it.

Well you did say 2025. Device that old won’t be receiving updates then for sure, if it scrapes past this year then it’ll be the last current, if iOS 16 isn’t already.

 

[Premium1]

I don't mind it's just going to be a Pro Max feature. It needs to stay exclusive based on what we pay for the Pro Max models. Perhaps, change the Pro Max model to iPhone Ultra.

That is such a dumb take. If you are calling something a pro, it should match the features outside of size constraints ones (battery, screen, etc.). If rumors are true about the camera bump getting even larger, no reason the pro can't have this other than to try and upsell people. Not everyone wants a tablet in their hand they have to carry around all of the time.

 

[4odomi]

It feels like Apple is putting out half features sometimes and this definitely feels like one. If Samsung can get up to 10X today, why is Apple shooting for 5-6X in 6 months? Feels like they're already planning on what the upgraded feature (10X) will look like on the 16 Pro Max, late in 2024 and then give the 5-6X to some of the 16s in 2024.

You don't seem to understand, that the periscope zoom is fixed and anything lower is just a crop

 

[4odomi]

I don't mind it's just going to be a Pro Max feature. It needs to stay exclusive based on what we pay for the Pro Max models. Perhaps, change the Pro Max model to iPhone Ultra.

That's very selfish and blinkered, you pay extra for the max, because of the larger screen & larger battery cost more! Not because it's more exclusive.
A Pro model shouldn't differentiate with features! FULL STOP