iPhone 16 Pro to Feature Major Telephoto Lens Revision

[MacRumors]

The iPhone 16 Pro models that are coming next year will feature a major camera lens overhaul, according to Economic Daily News. Apple plans to use more advanced glass molded lenses, which the site says will lead to a thinner and lighter design, lenses that are shorter, and improved optical zoom magnification.

The updated glass is said to be limited to the Telephoto lens because of the difficult production process and limited production capacity. Apple representatives allegedly recently visited molded glass supplier Hoya. Hoya's website says that it is able to produce large numbers of "highly accurate aspherical glass molded lenses." Apple will also source lenses from current supplier Largan Precision.

The new lens technology is expected to be more expensive, so the iPhone 16 Pro models could face "price pressure" next year.

Back in July, Weibo account Digital Chat Station referenced molded glass technology for the iPhone 16 Pro models, suggesting that Apple would introduce a "super" telephoto lens. Super is a label that is typically applied to cameras that have a focal length of over 300mm, which would far exceed the 120mm zoom of the current 5x tetraprism lens in the 15 Pro Max.

Both the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are expected to offer the more advanced telephoto capabilities currently limited to the Pro Max, but Digital Chat Station suggested that "super" zoom capabilities could be limited to the Pro Max, which would give it even more advanced optical zoom than the 16 Pro.

Article Link: iPhone 16 Pro to Feature Major Telephoto Lens Revision

 

[oink_oink]

This is good news. The camera bump has become big, fat, and ugly.
It has got to go!

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

The new lens technology is expected to be more expensive, so the iPhone 16 Pro models could face "price pressure" next year.

Getting the excuses in early. Nice. 💸💸💸

 

[alpi123]

Getting the excuses in early. Nice. 💸💸💸

🤦‍♂️

 

[centauratlas]

The camera is a huge reason I upgrade. Like health stuff for the watch!

 

[M1 Max]

Imagine where camera tech would be in 2035. Unlimited zoom? Photos back in time? MRI function?

 

[sigmasirrus]

Yeah they’re gonna squeeze that 5x telephoto into the regular sized pro no problem, even though they said they could ‘only fit it in the pro max’. That was just to push people to buy the bigger, more expensive phone and stretch out the diminishing new features. They did the same thing with the dual cameras on the plus years ago.

 

[darngooddesign]

iPhone 16 Pro Max - 10X
iPhone 16 Pro - 5X
iPhone 16 and 16 Plus - 3X

 

[t0rqx]

When are we able to expect some iPhone 17 rumours?

 

[darngooddesign]

When are we able to expect some iPhone 17 rumours?

We already had some.

 

[ajcgn]

I guess when the 16 is out, the telephoto lens can be used to get sneak pics of the upcoming 17.

 

[73CortinaV8]

Apple will continue to trickle out features, staying just barely competitive

 

[TheGeneralist]

Continue the camera differentiation between Pro and Pro Max?
That's by far the dumbest idea I've ever heard for the iPhone Pro Series.

 

[magicschoolbus]

I like the look of the iPad Pro camera bump. I think it would look great on an iPhone.

 

[TheDailyApple]

There’s honestly not been improvements enough to make me excited in any iphone release for a while. I guess it’s good for my wallet that i’m not tempted to upgrade more often then every three years when my carrier will pay for the upgrade.

 

[iLoveDeveloping]

Can I get a “Hoya….”

 

[CarAnalogy]

Imagine where camera tech would be in 2035. Unlimited zoom? Photos back in time? MRI function?

Nah it’s just gonna be an AI that makes you a picture of what you wanted to see. They’re already starting with this. Google is advertising a feature that makes everyone smile in a picture. And the Samsung moon controversy. And even Apple does so much processing when zoomed, there have been examples of artifacts. First they called it “computational photography” and soon the camera will literally just be a prompt for an AI.

 

[Student of Life]

iPhone 16 Pro Max - 10X
iPhone 16 Pro - 5X
iPhone 16 and 16 Plus - 3X

Those number seem kinda low. I would hope they beat 10x instead of just matching Samsung.

 

[Gloor]

If you read the article properly you will notice that it only talks about the telephoto lens.

This is good news. The camera bump has become big, fat, and ugly.
It has got to go!

 

[oofio2461]

is it more or am I more excited for the 16 Pro than the new Macs tonight?

 

[KENESS]

Imagine where camera tech would be in 2035. Unlimited zoom? Photos back in time? MRI function?

Zoom lens... They Live lens... Twilight Zone 1-minute in the future lens...

 

[klasma]

Imagine where camera tech would be in 2035. Unlimited zoom? Photos back in time? MRI function?

Still not anywhere close to a dedicated camera, probably.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

Yeah they’re gonna squeeze that 5x telephoto into the regular sized pro no problem, even though they said they could ‘only fit it in the pro max’. That was just to push people to buy the bigger, more expensive phone and stretch out the diminishing new features. They did the same thing with the dual cameras on the plus years ago.

16 Pro is rumored to be a larger device (6.3" display) than the 15 Pro (6.1" display).

 

[phill85]

Thank goodness I skipped the 15 Pro. Definitely getting the 16 Pro.

 

[W£S]

iPhone 16 Pro Max - 10X
iPhone 16 Pro - 5X
iPhone 16 and 16 Plus - 3X

If they are offering 10x, then it will be digital zoom from 1-9.9 for the main lens. This means it is worse for most people for day to day usage.

So unless you buy iPhone for bird photography, it is time for Apple to add a 4th lens, if they indeed intend to give us a super lens.