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Wide and Telephoto lenses look pretty good right now, so I can see that there could be about a year of lull. Ultra-Wide lens still need some improvements, however. It seems to have improved on 12 compared to 11, but it could be better.

Lenses aside, it would be reasonable to expect at least some minor improvements on the sensor. Coupled with better processing software, Apple would still be able to tout "best camera ever" on the next generation despite keeping essentially the same lens assembly.
 
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Key word in the lede: just the “lenses” won’t see significant upgrades. However, the language of the rest of this article does seem to muddy this important distinction by mentioning that, apparently, the “camera hardware” as a whole will also go unchanged: I wonder if this is conflation, or if it’s really true that the all of the phones’ respective sensors too won’t see upgrades in 2021. Now that would be disappointing.
Came here to say this. Sensors, etc. could all still see upgrades. I think a lot of posters are misunderstanding
 
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Apple will stop upgrading iphones with upgraded cameras when enough consumers slow down their rate of purchase each year for new, updated iPhones. For me, the current camera tech has reached diminished returns. The camera function is no longer determines my purchase decision. I suspect that I am not alone and that the growth of the list of people that feel like me is accelerating. If I’m right, Apple will listen and slow camera development. This rumor suggests that is exactly what is going on right now.
 
Makes sense. 12 Pro Max sensor has so much potential that is locked at the moment, that's why the differences between 12 Pro/12 Pro Max cameras are indistinguishable. So Apple will work with this sensor for a next few years and of course older phones (like 12 Pro Max) will not get these features and photo/video quality upgrades. I hate this approach by Apple and opposite - I really appreciate Google for upgrading camera software even for a older gen Pixels.
 
Great, keeping my 11 Pro through at least 2022.... camera upgrades are the only feature that Apple seems to be able to still market on the iPhone. Without camera upgrades, a lot more people would still have their X and XS.

If you exclude the camera upgrades achieved since the X, there is no real significant reason to upgrade from the X/XS.
 
Another Meh year for iPhone? :)

Again another poster not really realising what this topic means. it certainly doesn't mean you won't see good camera improvements. Apple will just be improving with the current sensors.

seeing as the current iPhone has maybe the best camera on a smartphone they don't exactly need to do much...pericope lens or lack there of is the one area where they are lacking which is down to better zoom which the. comp already has

I'm not surprised the amount who will judge this topic on not better cameras. They certainly will be just the sensors will not be much different but with how apple handles software with their cameras thats half the battle as to why they are so good. Same reason why the pixel cameras are so good and thats software.
 
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Wide and Telephoto lenses look pretty good right now, so I can see that there could be about a year of lull. Ultra-Wide lens still need some improvements, however. It seems to have improved on 12 compared to 11, but it could be better.

Lenses aside, it would be reasonable to expect at least some minor improvements on the sensor. Coupled with better processing software, Apple would still be able to tout "best camera ever" on the next generation despite keeping essentially the same lens assembly.
Kuo did say the ultra wide would be seeing a big improvement in 2021. It's one lens which is lacking compared to the rest.
 
As others have said, I do hope Apple focuses on something other than camera improvements. The XS, 11 pro and 12 pro have mostly been camera updates. Better tech is good and all but it just seems to reiterate to me that the iPhone is mature now. The reasons to upgrade are becoming less and less interesting.

I upgraded to a 12 from a XS but didn't really feel it was an upgrade so sent it back and sticking with my XS.
 
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I regretfully got the 12 Pro because my XS Max broke down. Was planning to

But this news makes me feel a bit better since I don't have to upgrade again soon.
 
only people who say that are people with the latest phones trying to justifying spending a lot on nothing.
the differences from the older phones are MASSIVE. To say otherwise makes anybody look like they are in denial.

the people who are not upgrading from much older phones simply don't care about the latest tech they just a phone that works. certainly has nothing to do with the the upgrades not being good enough.
 
I'd be fine with a 2 or maybe even a 3 year cycle hardware and software wise with focus on software. I would love to experience a "Snow Leopard" for iPhone where every feature I want "just works". Also the hardware advancements would be much more significant from gen to gen. But I guess I'm the only one and it wouldn't make sense business wise.
 
Just means that I will stay on my iPhone 11 Pro Max for a number of years just as my daily driver was an iPhone 7 Plus before this iPhone.

Hoping for a periscope camera in a future models, that could eliminate all these multi lens iPhone and return to a single or duel lens iPhone.

Right now when recording HD video my recording software has to switch from one lens to another when zooming in or out. Sometimes you get some noticeable camera lighting changes in the recording.
 
Sorry dude. My 12 Pro Max destroys my 11 Pro... which crushed my XS... which crushed my X, which was better than the 8 at launch. So I know that it craps all over the 8.
Recently online-attended a Final Cut Pro summit conference which lasted 7 days. Some of the presentations were related to the iPhone 12 Pro camera, HDR capabilities and ProResRAW... it is a bit mind blowing, some of the pictures and movies were gorgeous and full of recoverable information: a picture could have been shot as a full white sky but can be under exposed afterwards and start seeing the clouds and other details that were there when taken.

On a pocket device... it truly demolishes the previous phones on that front (including the 8s of course!) and in all other fronts, cpu and gpu performance is unparalleled and in practical terms is also mind blowing: a AAA-lite like game that runs at like 10fps on an 8 runs at solid unstoppable unflinched 60fps on a 12.

Good. Let them focus on ANYTHING but cameras FOR ONCE. I‘m tired of the camera focus every single event. The new iPhones should be more than „another lense!“ or „better camera!!!11“.

Stopped caring about updates to the camera like a decade ago.
I think cameras are important for these all-in-one pocket computers but to be honest, I very rarely use them overall... I don’t even use my phone as a phone either overall; I browse, read, check emails, reminders, chat, jog, spend time over here a whole lot more (50x more) than the time I spend making a phone call.

Issue is, these things being like a 60things-in-one devices... what should they focus on then? I think the screen resolution and performance are good enough so maybe they should stop focusing less on that and more on accurate GPS? What about speakers? I stopped caring about them 6 years ago (always in silent mode and always wireless earbuds)

What I mean is, it is impossible to please everybody because it does so many many tasks.

One thing though a decade ago, or even less, 5 years ago (I assume it was only an exaggeration joke) those cameras by today’s comparison are actually bad... plenty bad.
 
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For someone who takes at maximum 20 photos a year I'm glad Apple could focus on something else than the camera sensors for once. If they could focus all the energy they put in their cameras in removing the notch and the camera bump I would be the happiest Apple customer.
 
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