Apple's Orders for Key iPhone 13 Camera Component Expected to Outstrip Entire Android Market

Major camera upgrades coming to the iPhone 13 series are putting increased pressure on suppliers to meet Apple's demand for key lens components, according to a new DigiTimes report.

iphone12protriplelenscamera
Apple has reportedly put Taiwan-based makers of voice coil motor (VCM) components on notice to increase their capacity by 30-40% in order to meet the company's demand, which is expected to outstrip the entire Android market this year.

The sources pointed out that the next-generation iPhones are expected to have upgrades in camera modules and 3D sensors for Face ID, resulting in increasing use of VCMs, said the sources adding that Apple has also asked related component suppliers to increase their capacities by 30-40% in order to meet its demand.

Apple's order pull-ins for VCMs are expected to turn strong as soon as this month and begin surging in July. Meanwhile, the reduced demand from Android makers for VCMs is partly due to the impact of Huawei's US-imposed sanctions. That said, successive iPhone models have required more and more VCM components, which are involved in camera lens focus functions, because Apple keeps increasing the number and quality of lenses in its camera modules.

This year, Apple is expected to make several notable camera improvements in the ‌iPhone 13‌. The new "Pro" models are likely to feature an upgraded Ultra Wide camera lens with a wider f/1.8 aperture and a six-element lens, with some rumors suggesting that the Ultra Wide upgrade could come to all four iPhone 13 models.

Sensor-shift stabilization is expected to be expanded across the entire iPhone lineup, introducing improvements in low light performance and stabilization by reducing camera shake, with the feature rumored to be available for the Wide lens and the Ultra Wide lens of the Pro models. One rumor claims the new ‌iPhone‌ models will also be able to take Portrait Mode videos.

In addition, there are also claims that the ‌iPhone 13‌ models will have astrophotography camera capabilities for capturing the sky. This could involve a special mode that activates when the ‌iPhone‌ is pointed at the sky, allowing the device to detect the moon, stars, and other artifacts and adjust exposure.

If the rumors are accurate, all of these improvements are likely to require a slightly larger camera bump, although individual lenses may protrude less from the device's body, according to one source.

Apple's ‌iPhone 13‌ lineup will be unveiled in the fall of 2021, with the company likely aiming to return to its traditional September launch timeline.

Related Roundup: iPhone 13
Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

One2Grift Avatar
23 months ago

Even the camera of my Huawei 2018 Mate 20 Pro was better compared to my iPhone 12 Pro Max when I put the pictures side by side on the mac and enlarge them.

The camera is not the reason to buy an iPhone - but an improvement is very welcome.
Actually the camera is a reason to buy the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Videos are excellent and it’s night exposure (yes not a typo) is going to win it more often than not. Yet Huawei definitely was setting some standards with gold level hardware and it’s ultimate photo quality in some instances were singularly stellar above all competition. But because there’s going to be a number of variants to shooting a pic or video, each camera isn’t winning all categories (Samsung has a seriously great image quality for a number of photo/vid scenarios). But testing with IP12 Pro Max wasn’t performed against the 20 (or at least I could find). The equivalent ip12 Pro Max comp is the Huawei Mate 40 — of which you can definitely find side by sides photo, video, numerous environment scenarios. Everyone will quickly see each one has its categories it wins in and loses in. Ultimately IP12 Pro Max is a great camera as is the Huawei Mate 40.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ian87w Avatar
23 months ago
Don't worry. Android OEMs will simply put some low res depth sensor, b/w, and macro cameras to compensate. So they can still advertise quad(!) camera system despite only having 1 useful camera.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Trenches Avatar
23 months ago

This seems like an EXTREMELY niche feature to add to a mass market product.
You just described why I love Apple so much in one sentence.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wanha Avatar
23 months ago

In addition, there are also claims that the iPhone 13 models will have astrophotography camera capabilities ('https://www.macrumors.com/2021/02/15/iphone-13-always-on-display-stronger-magesafe/') for capturing the sky. This could involve a special mode that activates when the iPhone is pointed at the sky, allowing the device to detect the moon, stars, and other artifacts and adjust exposure.
This seems like an EXTREMELY niche feature to add to a mass market product.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
David1964 Avatar
23 months ago
They need to fix the lens flare in night mode.Other than that,I have no complaints.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Spinn_ Avatar
23 months ago
I’m very excited to see what the camera on the iPhone 13 can do.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 15 Pro Buttons CAD Leak

iPhone 15 Pro Leak Reveals Unified Volume Button and Mute Button

Monday March 20, 2023 8:33 am PDT by
As previously rumored, the next-generation iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature a unified volume button and a mute button, according to leaked CAD images shared in a video on the Chinese version of TikTok and posted to Twitter by ShrimpApplePro. Instead of separate buttons for volume up and volume down, the iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to have a single elongated button for...
original iphone auction

Factory-Sealed Original iPhone Sells for $55,000 at Auction

Friday March 17, 2023 1:08 pm PDT by
A first-generation iPhone still sealed inside its box sold for $54,904 at auction, which is more than $54,000 over the original $599 price tag of the device when it was released in 2007. The original iPhone was put up for sale by RR Auction on behalf of a former Apple employee who purchased it back when it first came out. Back in February, an original, sealed iPhone sold for over $63,000,...
iPhone 12 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro Feature

iPhone 12 Pro vs. 15 Pro: New Features to Expect if You've Waited to Upgrade

Friday March 17, 2023 10:29 am PDT by
While year-over-year iPhone upgrades are not always groundbreaking, new features can begin to stack up over multiple generations. For example, the iPhone 15 Pro will be a notable upgrade for those who still have a three-year-old iPhone 12 Pro. If you are still using an iPhone 12 Pro and are considering upgrading to the iPhone 15 Pro when it launches later this year, we have put together a...
top stories 18mar2023

Top Stories: iPhone 15 Pro Pricing, New iOS 16.4 Beta, Siri vs. ChatGPT, and More

Saturday March 18, 2023 6:00 am PDT by
Apple's high-end iPhone models have started at $999 in the U.S. since they first launched back in 2017 with the iPhone X, but could this finally be the year that starting price sees an increase? This week also saw some more rumors about Apple's upcoming headset and the company's explorations in the booming AI industry as well as the release of a new round of beta updates, so read on for all...
iPhone 15 Pro Mock Feature Buttonless

iPhone 15 Pro Max to 'Break Record' for Thinnest Bezels on a Smartphone

Friday March 17, 2023 2:59 am PDT by
The iPhone 15 Pro Max will have the thinnest bezels of any smartphone, beating the record currently held by the Xiaomi 13. That's according to the leaker known as "Ice Universe," who has divulged accurate information about Apple's plans in the past. Both iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to have thinner, curved bezels compared to the iPhone 14 Pro, potentially resulting in an Apple...
iphone 14 pro max deep purple feature purple

iPhone 15 Pro Launching This Year With These 11 New Features

Monday March 13, 2023 6:47 am PDT by
While the iPhone 15 lineup is around six months away, there have already been plenty of rumors about the devices. Many new features and changes are expected for the iPhone 15 Pro models in particular, including a titanium frame and more. Below, we have recapped 11 features rumored for iPhone 15 Pro models that are not expected to be available on the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus:A17...
iOS 16

iOS 16.4 for iPhone Nearing Launch With These 5 New Features

Monday March 20, 2023 11:50 am PDT by
Apple says iOS 16.4 is coming in the spring, which began this week. In his Sunday newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the update should be released "in the next three weeks or so," meaning a public release is likely in late March or early April. iOS 16.4 remains in beta testing and introduces a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone. Below, we have recapped five new features ...