Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Kuo: iPhone 13 Lineup to Feature Nearly Identical Wide Camera Lens as iPhone 12

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,990
40,003


According to credible Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 13 lineup, slated for launch in the second half of the year, will feature the same wide-angle lens as the current iPhone 12 series, offering no tangible improvements to one of the three lenses on the upcoming iPhone.

iphone12protriplelenscamera.jpg

In an investors note obtained by MacRumors, focused mainly on developments and changes within Apple's supply chain, Kuo says the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, and iPhone 13 Pro will feature the same 7P wide-angle lens with a ƒ1.6 aperture as their respective iPhone 12 counterparts. The larger iPhone 13 Pro Max will have a ƒ1.5 aperture wide-angle lens, a marginal increase compared to the ƒ1.6 aperture on the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Kuo states that Sunny Optical will be the new supplier for the 7P wide-angle lens, adding that mass production of the camera system could begin as soon as May. Looking more long-term, Kuo says that the demand for optical lenses for Apple devices will only significantly increase in the next few years thanks to AR and Apple Car.

We expect Sunny Optical to successfully pass the quality verification of the 7P wide-angle lens order for iPhone 13. Because iPhone 13 mini, 13, and 13 Pro share the same f1.6 7P wide-angle lens (vs. 13 Pro Max's f1.5 7P wide-angle lens), so Sunny Optical's order is the most in-demand. We estimate that Sunny Optical will ship the 7P wide-angle lens of the iPhone 13 to LG Innotek as soon as May.
Click to expand...
While the 2021 iPhones, according to Kuo, will not have a significantly different wide-angle lens, it is rumored to pack improvements to the ultra wide lens. According to Barclays analysts, all four iPhone 13 models will include upgraded Ultra Wide lenses with a ƒ/1.8 aperture, vs. the ƒ/2.4 aperture on the iPhone 12.

Aside from the camera lens, well-connected display analyst Ross Young has predicted that the camera sensor size of both the ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro Max will increase. Although Young doesn't state which of the three cameras will gain a larger sensor, a larger sensor would, in turn, have larger pixels. In other words, the sensor could collect more light, resulting in materially better image quality.

Earlier this month, Kuo reported that Apple plans to include a smaller notch and larger batteries for the entire iPhone 13 lineup. Exclusive to the higher-end Pro and Pro Max models will be a ProMotion 120Hz display, according to the analyst.

Previously, Kuo has also said the iPhone 12 Pro Max's sensor-shift image stabilization will expand to the entire iPhone 13 lineup.

Article Link: Kuo: iPhone 13 Lineup to Feature Nearly Identical Wide Camera Lens as iPhone 12
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/03/31/kuo-iphone-13-wide-angle-lens/
Last edited:
still all these evolutionary changes add up - smart phone cameras are making "real" cameras obsolete.
The German tech magazine CT tested smartphones against a professional mirror-less camera.
Result was: The "real" camera showed more accurately the reality of the light field captured, but the smartphone pictures looked better.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Disagree
  • Love
Reactions: SnakeEater1993, George Dawes, Antes and 3 others
Super cycle is a myth after all. There's never been a huge improvement on iPhones, year over year. Apple is smart at keeping old customers happy. Especially if it's a direct compare to last year's products. For example iPhone 11 Pro Max still has bigger battery compared to 12 Pro Max.

Another example is while Apple Watch SE is using the same S5 chip, but Series 5 keep the Always-On display.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DanTSX and Gusjasso
Ultra wide is the lens that needs the most improvement of is the weakest of the lens.

Bigger sensor on the pro max should be improved for the main lens as it doesn’t need to change much for that to happen
 
  • Like
Reactions: SnakeEater1993
MacRumors said:
The iPhone 13 lineup [...] will feature the same wide-angle lens as the current iPhone 12 series, offering no tangible improvements to one of the three lenses on the upcoming iPhone.

[...] Kuo says the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, and iPhone 13 Pro will feature the same 7P wide-angle lens with a ƒ1.6 aperture as their respective iPhone 12 counterparts. The larger iPhone 13 Pro Max will have a ƒ1.5 aperture wide-angle lens, a marginal increase compared to the ƒ1.6 aperture on the iPhone 12 Pro Max.

[...] Aside from the camera lens, [...] the camera sensor size of both the ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro Max will increase. Although Young doesn't state which of the three cameras will gain a larger sensor, a larger sensor would, in turn, have larger pixels.
Click to expand...
It ain't the same lens if the sensor size increases (if you want to maintain angle-of-view). Given that the ultra wide angle lens is supposed to be upgraded (faster & gaining autofocus) in all four models, a larger sensor for the Pro models would likely apply to either the wide angle or the 'tele' lens+camera module.
 
Last edited:
manu chao said:
It ain't the same lens if the sensor size increases (if you want to maintain angle-of-view). Given that the ultra wide angle lens is supposed to be upgraded (faster & gaining autofocus) in all four models, a larger sensor for the Pro models would likely apply to either the wide angle or the 'tele' lens+camera module.
Click to expand...

Well yeah the report from Ross young seemed to suggest main lens getting a bigger sensor and ultra wide having this new 7p lens
 
  • Like
Reactions: macsareveryinteresting
iPhone 13 is looking more like a ‘s’ update and to ‘sure up’ upgrades from hold outs who might be on much older models such as the 8 and 7 and maybe X. With what I do, can’t really justify upgrading from my X. Still sticking to my 2023 plan.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PhillyGuy72
13 looks like a stepping stone to 14. Thinking its going to be the same with the IOS as well
 
joecomo said:
still all these evolutionary changes add up - smart phone cameras are making "real" cameras obsolete.
German tech magazine tested smartphones against a professional mirror-less camera.
Result was: The "real" camera showed more accurately the reality of the light field captured, but the smartphone pictures looked better.
Click to expand...
Does this have anything to do with how the software manipulates the photo after the shot like on iOS?
 
Techwatcher said:
Might be a while for a real overall update then. Maybe iPhone 14 or 15.
Click to expand...

Got to pace the drip fed improvements to keep people coming back for more each year.

For all those hating on Samsung and the rest they need to remember, the less competition, the slower and smaller the drip...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gusjasso
This seems like a minor upgrade with the smaller notch and 120hz being the biggest features.

Granted, for some those are big upgrades.
 
All I ask is for a camera that can zoom up to 100x, take instantaneous super low light photos, and always be in focus. And all of this without any degradation and for both photos and videos. And absolutely accurate color. That’s it, I’m a simple person.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: subi257
joecomo said:
still all these evolutionary changes add up - smart phone cameras are making "real" cameras obsolete.
German tech magazine tested smartphones against a professional mirror-less camera.
Result was: The "real" camera showed more accurately the reality of the light field captured, but the smartphone pictures looked better.
Click to expand...
I’ve seen comments like these for years. Don’t get me wrong, smartphone cameras are great and I use mine all the time.

But the physics of the situation is that you just can’t replicate many of the shots taken with replaceable lens cameras — particularly telephoto. For examples like these and others, I don’t expect smartphones to ever replace the bigger rigs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: subi257
ugh, this pisses me off. lack of camera improvements is what made me skip the 12, which i was almost certain i was going to get. i do love my xs with 3d touch, but i'm not sure how i feel about having it for 4 years. i've never held on to an iphone for that long...
 
  • Like
Reactions: George Dawes and xpxp2002
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back