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.

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Top Rated Comments

One2Grift Avatar
51 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
51 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
51 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
51 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
51 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
51 months ago
I’m very excited to see what the camera on the iPhone 13 can do.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)