iPhone 16 Pro Again Rumored to Include Tetraprism Telephoto Lens With 5X Optical Zoom
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.
Popular Stories
25 New Things Your iPhone Can Do With Next Month’s iOS 17.2 Update
Apple made the first beta of iOS 17.2 available to developers in October. Since then we’ve seen two more betas, and with each iteration Apple continues to add more new features and changes, many of which users have been anticipating for quite a while. Below, we’ve listed 25 new things that are coming to your iPhone when the finalized version is publicly released in December. 1. Help You…
iPhone 16 Series Rumored to Have These 17 New Features
The iPhone 16 series is at least 10 months away, and yet there are 17 rumors already circulating about the devices. Below, we’ve recapped all of the new features and changes we have covered here at MacRumors so far. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The following key changes have been rumored for the iPhone 16 lineup as of November 2023: Larger Displays: The…
4 Best Black Friday iPad Deals
Even though there’s still one week until Black Friday, we’re tracking a number of all-time low prices on iPads today. This also includes record lows on iPad accessories like the Magic Keyboard. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. iPads Starting…
Apple Plans to Equip MacBooks With In-House Cellular Modems
Apple eventually plans to build its own custom modem into cellular MacBook models that could arrive in 2028 at the earliest, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Apple has reportedly been working on its own modem since 2018, as it seeks to move away from Qualcomm’s component currently used in iPhones. The timeframe for launching the modem has slipped several times and is now expected to be…
Apple Preparing to Release iOS 17.1.2 Update for iPhone
Apple appears to be internally testing an iOS 17.1.2 update for the iPhone, based on evidence of the software in our website’s analytics logs within the past few days. As a minor update, iOS 17.1.2 should be focused on bug fixes, but it’s unclear exactly which issues might be addressed. Some users have continued to experience Wi-Fi issues on iOS 17.1.1, released earlier this month, so…
First Alleged iPhone 16 Pro Component Leak Reveals Redesigned Battery
Images purporting to depict a new battery designed for the iPhone 16 Pro today leaked online, showing a new metal casing and a slightly larger capacity. The images come from the leaker known as “Kosutami,” who has disseminated accurate information about Apple’s plans in the past. If authentic, the images are the first to be shared of the iPhone 16’s components. The battery is said to be…
