iPhone 16 Pro Again Rumored to Include Tetraprism Telephoto Lens With 5X Optical Zoom

[MacRumors]

Both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will include Apple's tetraprism Telephoto lens with improved zoom capabilities, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reiterated today.

Apple introduced a new tetraprism lens system for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, enabling 5x optical zoom for the first time. The camera technology was not added to the iPhone 15 Pro, marking one of the first times that Apple has added camera technology to one Pro device and not the other.

The limitation was rumored to be because of space constraints, with only the Pro Max able to accommodate the hardware, but yield may have also been a factor. According to Kuo, when lens supplier Largan was producing the tetraprism hardware for the iPhone 15 Pro Max in the third quarter of 2023, production yield was at just 40 percent. Yield has now improved to 70 percent or more.

Apple is planning to increase the size of the iPhone 16 Pro to 6.3 inches, up from 6.1 inches, which will allow for more space for camera hardware. With the size increase and the yield improvement, Apple has addressed the factors that likely kept the tetraprism lens limited to the larger Pro Max iPhone.

It is not yet clear if Apple has plans to make improvements to the tetraprism lens in 2024. One rumor has suggested Apple is working on a "super telephoto camera" with a much longer focal length, but we've heard little about it at this point.

Article Link: iPhone 16 Pro Again Rumored to Include Tetraprism Telephoto Lens With 5X Optical Zoom

 

[breenmask]

and water is wet? wow what an amazing prediction

 

[truthsteve]

uh even I could have predicted this.

 

[SoldOnApple]

Read the article and still not sure what tetraprism is. But I want it.

 

[vegetassj4]

might as well wait on the pentaprism lens in the 17, or maybe we will have dodecaprism in the XX.

 

[magicchina]

marking one of the first times that Apple has added camera technology to one Pro device and not the other.

Not exactly, iPhone 12 Pro's main camera only got 1.4µm pixel size+OIS, while iPhone 12 Pro max's got 1.7µm pixel size+IBIS.

 

[Lakersfan74]

Maybe but Apple will still give the PM something that the Pro doesn't have so they can upsell.

 

[Return Zero]

Not exactly, iPhone 12 Pro's main camera only got 1.4µm pixel size+OIS, while iPhone 12 Pro max's got 1.7µm pixel size+IBIS.

Hence “one of the first times”, not “the first time”

 

[KPOM]

Maybe but Apple will still give the PM something that the Pro doesn't have so they can upsell.

Not necessarily.

 

[nfortna]

might as well wait on the pentaprism lens in the 17, or maybe we will have dodecaprism in the XX.

"Now featuring the most prisms EVER in an iPhone"

 

[shpankey]

Maybe but Apple will still give the PM something that the Pro doesn't have so they can upsell.

This.Is.The.Way

Ps only 5x would be disappointing

 

[traveltoromantis]

Not exactly, iPhone 12 Pro's main camera only got 1.4µm pixel size+OIS, while iPhone 12 Pro max's got 1.7µm pixel size+IBIS.

This, and the 6s+ had optical image stabilization while the 6s didn't. Perhaps better wording would have been "one of the few times". I suppose they did specify pro devices, but it's still confusing wording imo.

 

[JPack]

Read the article and still not sure what tetraprism is. But I want it.

Basically, Apple's way of saying "periscope lens."

 

[jz0309]

Was this not already been rumored before the 15 launch?
Kuo is losing his “grip”…

 

[ghostface147]

Read the article and still not sure what tetraprism is. But I want it.

From Apple:

We created a state‑of‑the‑art tetraprism design — a folded glass structure below the lens — to reflect light rays four times over. This allows light to travel for longer in the same space, giving you a new focal length that really goes the distance.
To support the tetraprism design, we pioneered a 3D sensor‑shift optical image stabilization and autofocus module that moves in all three directions. Our most advanced stabilization system ever delivers twice as many microadjustments as before.

 

[NT1440]

Basically, Apple's way of saying "periscope lens."

Nope. It’s a totally different type of mechanism. I was fully expecting a periscope lens mechanism as well. The prism doesn’t have the moving components that a periscope lens does, it’s an entirely different approach than a periscope lens assembly.

 

[JosephAW]

Instead of folding glass I want a folded time camera so I don't miss a photo I just missed

 

[dampfnudel]

Not exactly, iPhone 12 Pro's main camera only got 1.4µm pixel size+OIS, while iPhone 12 Pro max's got 1.7µm pixel size+IBIS.

We can go even further back than that with the single-lens iPhone 7 and dual-lens 7 Plus.

 

[DHagan4755]

As good as this may be, the game changer for iPhone will be battery technology that gives dramatically superior battery life. This would have a far greater impact for all users than a tetraprism lens.

 

[svish]

16 Pro should get 5x zoom. Don't think Apple will increase the zoom for 16 Pro Max

 

[MrENGLISH]

As good as this may be, the game changer for iPhone will be battery technology that gives dramatically superior battery life. This would have a far greater impact for all users than a tetraprism lens.

I have a feeling silicon-carbon batteries are on their way to future iPhones. They are already making big waves with the Honor Magic V2 phone. It is only a matter of time before all the other big tech companies start to use them in their devices.

 

[Mr. Dee]

Hopefully the iPhone 16 Pro Max jumps to 10x zoom to differentiate from the Pro.

 

[wikiverse]

Honestly, I'm glad I didn't get the 15PM and got the pro instead. The 3x is long enough and 5x would be too long for most uses. Plus, for video 3x is already hard to keep stable, and 5x is just going to be a shaky mess.

They should just bite the bullet and go full Samsung Galaxy Camera style with a proper telescoping zoom lens on the back of the camera. Just make a version that is a camera that also happens to be a phone.

 

[transpo1]

16 Pro should get 5x zoom. Don't think Apple will increase the zoom for 16 Pro Max

But they might for the Ultra...

 

[parajba]

I want a better battery and a lighter phone.