Kuo: Periscope Camera Lens Will Remain Limited to iPhone 16 Pro Max Model in 2024

The 2024 iPhone 16 Pro Max (or Ultra should Apple change the iPhone naming scheme) will continue to be the only ‌iPhone‌ model that will get a higher-end, upgraded periscope camera with new zoom capabilities next year, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

iPhone 14 Pro Rear Camera
As has been previously rumored several times, Apple this year will limit periscope lens technology to the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max, perhaps because of the space that the hardware requires. Keeping the periscope lens exclusive to the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro Max as well will see Apple breaking a tradition that often sees new features introduced as exclusives for one ‌iPhone‌ and then later expanded to additional ‌iPhone‌ models when next-generation devices release.


Kuo's information contradicts a recent report from The Elec, which said that a "Folded Zoom" periscope lens would be available in both the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro and the ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro Max next year.

With a periscope lens, light is reflected by an angled mirror toward the image sensor in the camera. The directional shift allows for a "folded" telephoto lens system for improved optical zoom capabilities without the blurriness that comes with digital zoom.

Periscope lens technology is already used by Apple's competitors like Samsung, and the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ Max could feature up to 6x optical zoom, an improvement over the current 3x optical zoom in the iPhone 14 Pro models.

For the last few years, the Pro and Pro Max iPhones have offered similar features, and battery life has been the main distinguishing feature between the devices aside from display size. Limiting periscope zoom technology to the Pro Max will likely frustrate those who like to have the latest technology but who do not care for the larger 6.7-inch size.

As Apple is adding more features to the larger 6.7-inch iPhone 15 "Pro Max," there are rumors that it could instead be called the ‌iPhone 15‌ Ultra, similar to the Apple Watch Ultra.

Related Roundup: iPhone 15
Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

andrewxgx Avatar
9 weeks ago
unless this is purely size thing (ie. cant fit the damn thing into smaller phone), this is absolute BS
i want the best camera possible in portable format - max is too large
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BC2009 Avatar
9 weeks ago
Gotta love how we are making predictions on features exclusive to the iPhone 16 Pro Max that are not yet even released in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Why this rumor matters when it is 20 months away eludes me.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ediks Avatar
9 weeks ago

Makes sense. It should only remain in the Pro line up to differentiate the dollar iPhone.
The smaller Pro is still Pro, it should get it too then
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vegetassj4 Avatar
9 weeks ago
I found this left in Gourmet Haus Staudt ('https://www.businessinsider.com/brian-hogan-lost-iphone-4-reddit-2013-6'). Looks like some sort of prototype.



Attachment Image
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ThisBougieLife Avatar
9 weeks ago
Not a big fan of bigger phones getting extra features and Apple has a mixed record on it, but hopefully they will improve the technology to the point that it can be included in the smaller non-Max Pro.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JackNL Avatar
9 weeks ago

Did anybody predict the iPhone 14 Pro would be a buggy disaster, likely due to a chip design flaw and a rushed fix? Nope.

Hard to tell this far out what’s going to materialize.
Buggy disaster? Mine is running just fine, what are the issues?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Apple Announces WWDC 2023 Event Taking Place June 5 to 9

Wednesday March 29, 2023 9:58 am PDT by
Apple today announced that its 34th annual Worldwide Developers Conference will take place from Monday, June 5 to Friday, June 9. Like WWDC 2020, 2021, and 2022, WWDC 2023 will be an online event for the most part, and it will be open to all developers at no cost. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Apple will provide online sessions and labs, which will allow...
iPhone 15 Pro Buttons CAD Leak

iPhone 15 Pro Low-Energy Chip to Allow Solid-State Buttons to Work When Device is Off or Out of Battery

Wednesday March 29, 2023 1:54 am PDT by
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will use a new ultra-low energy microprocessor allowing certain features like the new capacitive solid-state buttons to remain functional even when the handset is powered off or the battery has run out, according to a source that shared details on the MacRumors forums. CAD-based render of new solid-state buttons on iPhone 15 Pro models The source of this rumor is ...
CarPlay Phone Call

General Motors to Phase Out Apple CarPlay Starting This Year in EV Transition

Friday March 31, 2023 8:43 am PDT by
General Motors (GM) will phase out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its vehicles starting this year, shifting to a built-in infotainment system co-developed with Google (via Reuters). GM owns Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC in the United States. It will stop offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto starting with the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer, which goes on sale this summer. The company plans ...
iPhone 15 Pro Multi Purpose button Mute Switch Feature Green 2

iPhone 15 Pro Rumored to Feature Multi-Use Action Button Instead of Mute Switch

Wednesday March 29, 2023 7:28 am PDT by
iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models are rumored to feature a customizable Action button like the Apple Watch Ultra, according to a MacRumors forum member who leaked accurate details about the Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro models last year. The source claimed the Action button will replace the Ring/Silent switch that has been included on every iPhone model since 2007. They did not...
iOS 16

iOS 16.4 Now Available for Your iPhone With These 8 New Features

Friday March 31, 2023 8:55 am PDT by
Following six weeks of beta testing, iOS 16.4 was released to the public this week. The software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the iPhone 8 and newer. To install an iOS update, open the Settings app on the iPhone, tap General → Software Update, and follow the on-screen instructions. Below, we have recapped eight new features and changes added with iOS 16.4,...
iOS 17 on Phone Feature

Three New iOS Features Coming to Your iPhone Following Apple Music Classical

Thursday March 30, 2023 7:13 am PDT by
With the Apple Music Classical app and an Apple Pay Later early access program now available, the list of previously-announced iOS features that have yet to launch is beginning to shrink. However, there are still a few features we are waiting for. Below, we have recapped three more iOS features that are expected to launch in 2023, including an Apple Card savings account for Daily Cash,...
apple mixed reality headset concept by david lewis and marcus kane

Kuo: Apple Mixed-Reality Headset May Not Appear at WWDC as Mass Production Pushed Back Yet Again

Thursday March 30, 2023 4:50 am PDT by
Apple has again pushed back mass production of its mixed-reality headset and the device may not appear at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said. Apple headset concept by David Lewis and Marcus Kane In a tweet, Kuo explained that Apple "isn't very optimistic" about whether the headset will be able to create an "iPhone moment." As a result,...