iPhone Fold to Feature Industry-First 24MP Under-Display Camera

[MacRumors]

Apple's first foldable iPhone will feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-screen camera built into the inner display, according to the latest JP Morgan equity research report seen by MacRumors.

We've previously heard rumors that Apple will use an under-display camera for the book-style foldable's inner display, but this is the first reference to the camera's proposed megapixel count.

Under-display camera technology has been used on some Android phones, but they tend to have lower resolution sensors (4 or 8 megapixels, for example) because the image quality suffers due to being behind display layers.

The jump to a 24-megapixel camera (with six plastic lens elements, per the report) would therefore be a significant technological advance, potentially resulting in clearer, sharper images with more detail. The detail suggests Apple has achieved a breakthrough in greatly improving light transmittance and image quality compared to previous designs.

However, the JP Morgan forecast also suggests Apple has made some compromises to keep the foldable device compact, such as a lack of LiDAR and optical image stabilization.

Apple's foldable iPhone is expected to include a dual-lens rear camera, with a front-facing camera for both folded and unfolded states, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently corroborated reports that the device will have four cameras consisting of one front camera, one inner camera, and two rear cameras. Prolific Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station claims that the rear dual lenses will be 48 megapixels each.

Other sources have claimed that the inner display features an under-screen camera, while the outer display – in the device's folded state – will have a punch-hole camera. Apple is reportedly relying on Touch ID integrated into the side button instead of Face ID for biometric authentication.

Gurman has said he expects the device to be launched next year in the fall season. However, Japan's Mizuho Securities banking firm has suggested a postponement to 2027 could still happen because of Apple taking longer to decide on key design elements such as the hinge.

Article Link: iPhone Fold to Feature Industry-First 24MP Under-Display Camera

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

They may be late to the party, but no doubt they will be the best.

 

[snipr125]

Advanced tech like this will help differentiate the Fold from the other iPhones in the lineup.

 

[DMG35]

I'll believe it when I see it. It's vaporware right now and considering how horrifically late they are to the party I would hope that they do a foldable better than anyone has done thus far.

I don't want to have a "1st gen product that will see dramatic improvements in the future." Or "A good start for Apple in the foldable market." I want a lights out first gen product that crushes everyone else's foldable.

 

[Ctrlos]

Advanced tech like this will help differentiate the Fold from the other iPhones in the lineup.

Samsung abandoned the under-display camera because the area on top was kind of crap. Here's hoping Apple solved that problem.

 

[HouseLannister]

There’s a 16 MP under display on RedMagic phones and they are still crap. A few more MP will not overcome the inherent compromises of this approach. And with their whole centerstage upgrades this year, I doubt we will be even using the whole 24 MP sensor on any given shot. A foldable phone will always be one of compromises, but this may be one too many.

 

[t0rqx]

This definitely gonna be a #gate. Thanks BETA users.

 

[Michael Scrip]

I know the term "under display" sounds sexy... but it just means there's something covering the camera.

I don't see how anything in front of the lens of a camera can compete with an unobstructed lens.

But I guess we'll find out.

😎

 

[klasma]

They should make a fold-out camera on the top edge, such that when you fold/unfold the phone, the camera folds/unfolds as well.

 

[Moonjumper]

I don't mind compromises to the camera for thinness. I don't use my iPhone (12 Mini) front-facing camera much because the images are so over-processed and look terrible. My 2015 iMac has a much lower spec camera, but looks much better.

 

[iMac The Knife]

Now this is something I am on board with! Having owned all the Z Folds from the 3 to the 7, I was upset that they didn't implement the UDC for the Z Fold 7. Personally, I'd rather not have a camera at all on the inner display, but if there is going to be one, I prefer it to be an UDC where the less it can be seen the better.

 

[iMac The Knife]

Samsung abandoned the under-display camera because the area on top was kind of crap. Here's hoping Apple solved that problem.

I've read that Samsung had to abandon the UDC due to a patent lawsuit, or something to that effect.

 

[MayaUser]

couple of months later...this rumour has been delayed or canceled

 

[iMac The Knife]

They should make a fold-out camera on the top edge, such that when you fold/unfold the phone, the camera folds/unfolds as well.

Even though it wasn't the best camera, I prefer the pop-up approach they implemented on the OnePlus 7 Pro. I would rarely use it (if ever), so it doesn't matter to me if it is great or not. However, I image it would be a better camera today than any UDC could be.

 

[Lioness~]

Too big, I'm waiting for the flip phone.
If Apple won't make it, I ride my mini to the end and, hasta la vista.

 

[t0rqx]

Another product stripped from lot of features but the price two-folds.

 

[swm]

so you're telling me, that in a significantly more space-constrained space they gonna drop in a higher resolution camera with twice as much pixels plus the rest of the face-id contraption? and they won't do this with the regular lineup where space is less of an issue but squeeze it into a brand new, in many aspects likely unproven technology of a vanity project?
hell, why bother testing it in prod and collecting real world experience, customer feedback and reliability data. makes total sense from engineering perspective, cause the world is really looking for a $3000 smartphone that is deprecated in 1 or 2 years tops.
because if this (the front camera + faceid) fails in any subtle way, no matter of flipping-folding gonna fix that.

 

[zedsdead]

Isn't the current larger sensor actually 24mp but always crops down to 18mp cause it's never the full surface area due to it now being a square?

 

[pdaholic]

Day one purchase for me. My wallet is trembling.

 

[Ctrlos]

I've read that Samsung had to abandon the UDC due to a patent lawsuit, or something to that effect.

The actual reason was so they could make the device thinner for the Z7, but the audience didn’t mind as the display over the camera was just a kind of ugly mash of pixels.

 

[DocMultimedia]

This really is starting to sound like a product where everything is lower quality than the iPhone Pro, but it folds.

Umm...no thanks.

 

[contacos]

They will get me back if the camera is flagship. For some reason this is where the competitors of Oppo and Samsung (I have both) are lacking, their cameras are pure crap in low light and embarrassing at concerts.

 

[contacos]

Samsung abandoned the under-display camera because the area on top was kind of crap. Here's hoping Apple solved that problem.

They most likely abandoned it because they have issues with the patent

 

[contacos]

I know the term "under display" sounds sexy... but it just means there's something covering the camera.

I don't see how anything in front of the lens of a camera can compete with an unobstructed lens.

But I guess we'll find out.

😎

Your camera literally has glass in front of it

Edit: MR feel free to merge my replies. The multi quote thing never works on mobile for me.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Nobody wants a foldable. I don’t see the point.

/s