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 Roundups: iPhone 15, iPhone 16 Pro
Related Forum: iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

andrewxgx Avatar
32 months 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
32 months 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
32 months 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
32 months 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
32 months 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
32 months 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)