iPhone 15 Pro Max Periscope Lens Coming to Both iPhone 16 Pro Models in 2024

[MacRumors]

The iPhone 15 Pro Max will be the sole Apple smartphone of 2023 to get a periscope camera lens and benefit from greatly enhanced optical zoom, with the hardware only set to become a feature of both Pro models next year, claims a new Korean report.

According to The Elec, Apple intends a "Folded Zoom" periscope telephoto lens to be an exclusive feature in the iPhone 15 Pro Max this year, corroborating a report by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo has previously said the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be only model in the iPhone 15 series to get a periscope camera lens, a prediction that analyst Jeff Pu has also made. The Korean report claims Apple will then make the periscope lens system a feature of both iPhone 16 Pro models in 2024.

In a periscope system, light entering the telephoto lens is reflected by an angled mirror towards the camera's image sensor. The change in direction in which the light travels allows for a longer "folded" telephoto setup inside phones, enabling users to zoom in further without any blurriness.

According to The Elec, Apple is tapping new suppliers for the OIS actuators that will be used in the periscope lens destined for this year's iPhone 15 Pro Max. Apple will rely on Korean companies LG Innotek and Jahwa Electronics to supply the actuators, replacing existing iPhone camera module actuator makers Japan Alps and Mitsumi.

Both LG Innotek and Jahwa have worked with Samsung to develop the ball-type actuators, which lend themselves better to folded zoom modules than the spring actuators Apple currently uses in its telephoto modules. Samsung's Galaxy S22 Ultra already features a 10x zoom periscope telephoto camera.

Apple's decision to make hardware features exclusive to this year's 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max model is likely to cause frustration among would-be upgraders who seek the best features in the smaller 6.1-inch Pro model. Apple has not differentiated camera features between its iPhone "Pro" models since the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Rumors have suggested that there will be increased differentiation between the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, in part because of stronger iPhone 14 Pro Max sales than expected. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said the iPhone 15 Pro Max could potentially be renamed the iPhone 15 Ultra, like the Apple Watch Ultra.

Additional details for the ‌iPhone 15‌ are still rather scarce given its expected September release, but Apple is widely expected to shift to USB-C and expand the Dynamic Island to all of this year's iPhones.

Article Link: iPhone 15 Pro Max Periscope Lens Coming to Both iPhone 16 Pro Models in 2024

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

It’s features like periscope lenses that will keep Apple afloat, no?

I’ll grab my coat.

 

[t0rqx]

Back to the iPhone 7 era. The company is really struggling everything is a mess. Product range, strategy, software…simplify damn it!

Remove the idiotic PLUS series and people will be upgrading to the Pro models automatically like you desire!

 

[Cristim74]

Back to the iPhone 7 era. The company is really struggling everything is a mess.

Yes, Apple is definitely struggling; you can clearly see it in their revenues.

 

[Danoc]

.

 

[Hammerd]

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra isn't even announced (to be feb 1st). Must be talking about the S22 Ultra

 

[Franjelisco]

Wrong! There was a difference between the cameras in the 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max.

 

[MarcoPohlo]

Just give us three phones: Ultra (biggest), Pro (middle) and Mini (13 Mini form factor) all of them with roughly the same specs. And one budget phone (SE) with "whatever people buy the most form factor".

The same with MacBooks, why is there MacBook Pro 13"? Just have Air in both 13" and 15" and Pro in 14" and 16". Super simple. But for the love of god use decent heat pipe in Air M3, thanks!

 

[contacos]

Wrong! There was a difference between the cameras in the 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max.

hence the "since"

 

[Hammerd]

Just give us three phones: Ultra (biggest), Pro (middle) and Mini (13 Mini form factor) all of them with roughly the same specs. And one budget phone (SE) with "whatever people buy the most form factor".

The same with MacBooks, why is there MacBook Pro 13"? Just have Air in both 13" and 15" and Pro in 14" and 16". Super simple. But for the love of god use decent heat pipe in Air M3, thanks!

Right, ppl are becoming pissed to spend top $ to only get the cheapskate version.

 

[tomtad]

Well this is disappointing to say the least. The periscope was one of the key features I was looking forward to (and what the competition has had for years btw) and now it's going to be limited to the big chungus.

 

[contacos]

Just give us three phones: Ultra (biggest), Pro (middle) and Mini (13 Mini form factor) all of them with roughly the same specs. And one budget phone (SE) with "whatever people buy the most form factor".

The same with MacBooks, why is there MacBook Pro 13"? Just have Air in both 13" and 15" and Pro in 14" and 16". Super simple. But for the love of god use decent heat pipe in Air M3, thanks!

In a perfect world, where Apple isnt a revenue driven company, that would make sense but they want you to buy the PRO without sacrificing the price. They could easily continue to sell an "SE" or whatever followed by the Pro but then the price jump from like 600 EUR to 1300 EUR would be too dramatic, they need to offer something in between even for upselling strategies. I am sure a lot of people are like "hmmm for 900 EUR or whatever I can get a "Plus" eh might as well spent 300 EUR more and get the Pro since it also starts at more GB"

 

[GaryMumford]

iPhone 17 Pro Max *Add feature here* coming to both iPhone 18 pro models in 2026.
iPhone 18 Pro Max *Add feature here* coming to both iPhone 19 pro models in 2027.
iPhone 19 Pro Max *Add feature here* coming to both iPhone 20 pro models in 2028.
iPhone 20 Pro Max *Add feature here* coming to both iPhone 21 pro models in 2029.
...

 

[DJTaurus]

Is this a cross over article ?

 

[Morgenland]

'Korea's LG Innotek and Jahwa confirmed to being the suppliers for the all-new Folded Zoom Lens aimed for Apple's iPhone 15 Pro Max'

This is how other websites approach the topic. Short and crisp. This is how journalism can be, which has long said goodbye to Ming-Chi Kuo and similiar busybodies.

 

[Kottu]

15 pro max or ultra ( whatever it's gonna named) will have a maximum of 5X zoom as according to Apple people don't use more than 3X zoom while taking photos with iPhone! Or they gonna argue something like Android users are stalkers or paparazzis and that's why they prefer bigger zoom. When others reach to 30x, iPhones will b blessed by Apple with 10X.

Anyway, Apple will set aside 30 minutes of keynote just to convince us how brilliant their new lens is!

I wish if Apple bring a real zoom like Sony did. Now whatever zoom level between 0.5x and 3x are captured as digital zoom.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Yes, Apple is definitely struggling; you can clearly see it in their revenues.

Stock is down. Executive compensation is down. They’re expected to report less revenue than last year for the first time in, what, 14 years?

They kind of are struggling. They’re clearly out of ideas and have started squeezing users for ad revenue, something years ago they said they weren’t good at and had no interest in.

I don’t want it to be this way but it does seem they’re in a bit of a slump.

 

[zombierunner]

Phones are old tech now.

 

[NEPOBABY]

Periscope as in angled lens and not this popping out

 

[Paddle1]

If the only difference between the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra is the periscope lens we'll be getting off easy. Reduced storage, less RAM and slower USB-C port are all things I could see them doing to differentiate. Maybe even bring back the SIM slot?

I just feel like if they name it Ultra there has to be more to it.

 

[AndiG]

11 years after Steve Jobs left Apple, the company was in big trouble. Now Jobs is gone for 12-13 years and the company is again in big troubles (but without going insolvent, Apple has more than enough money). When Jobs returned to Apple, he removed 90% of Apples 350 different products, cutting that number down to just ten products.
https://medium.com/codex/what-would-steve-jobs-do-if-he-returned-to-apple-today-f3ef61044a7e

Tim Cook creates new product versions in order to maximise revenue and now we have iPhone, iPhone Pro, SE, Max, Ultra, Ultra Max SE and only god knows what else will come to the stores.
iPhone and iPhone max would be enough. Both shipping at a reasonable price. Am I going to buy an iPhone super deluxe ultimate max for 1500 bucks, just cecause it ships with a periscope camera? Hell no!

But i would buy an iPhone with periscope camera for $900 - eventually. Smartphones are no longer that exciting.

Btw I won't buy Apples deep sea divers AR goggles for another 2 or 3K. That technology may be interesting for a small subset of people, but it won't enter the mass market anytime soon.

 

[Wanted797]

Just give us three phones: Ultra (biggest), Pro (middle) and Mini (13 Mini form factor) all of them with roughly the same specs. And one budget phone (SE) with "whatever people buy the most form factor".

The same with MacBooks, why is there MacBook Pro 13"? Just have Air in both 13" and 15" and Pro in 14" and 16". Super simple. But for the love of god use decent heat pipe in Air M3, thanks!

This is marketing 101. Look up the decoy affect.

Why is there a MacBook Pro 13”? To make you pick the MacBook Pro 14”

Why did they make the iPhone mini? To up sell the 6.1” that most people want for $100 more.

Why is there a iPhone 14 with the same processor and specs as the 13?… I think you get the point.

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

So, both are Pro but one is more pro than the other? Such a stupid move. I’m glad that 2024 is going to be my upgrade year.

 

[DFZD]

So we are now discussing rumours of an already rumoured phone camera? Is that what they call cameraception?

 

[Chazak]

Yes, Apple is definitely struggling; you can clearly see it in their revenues.

Completely disagree. Their financials are very strong and show much less of an economic hit that their competitors. The most recent quarter reported does not reflect what you say, especially the "struggling" part. Please provide some detail that backs up what you are saying.