Kuo: iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus to Feature 48-Megapixel Camera That Can Capture More Light

The lower-end iPhone 15 and ‌iPhone‌ 15 Plus models launching later this year will feature a 48-megapixel rear camera lens with a new stacked sensor design that can capture more light, according to Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

iPhone 15 Cyan and Magenta Frosted Back Feature
Writing on his Medium blog, Kuo said Apple has been able to overcome yield issues of the new stacked CMOS image sensor (CIS) design thanks to supplier Sony increasing its production capacity by 100-120% to meet Apple's demand, resulting in a significant reduction in supply for its Android partners.

Apple first introduced a 48-megapixel camera lens on the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro Max last year. The lens enables users to shoot 48-megapixel ProRAW photos, which retain more detail in the image file for more editing flexibility. By contrast, last year's ‌iPhone‌ 14 and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Plus used a 12-megapixel camera lens.

Kuo's report corroborates a claim by Jeff Pu, an analyst at Hong Kong-based investment firm Haitong International Securities, who in May said the 48-megapixel lens on the ‌iPhone‌ 15 and ‌iPhone‌ 15 Plus will use a new three-stacked sensor that can capture more light for improved image quality.

At the time, Pu said the stacked sensor was likely facing yield issues that could result in ‌iPhone‌ 15 and ‌iPhone‌ 15 Plus production delays. However, Kuo's latest report suggests Apple has resolved the situation, albeit to the detriment of its rivals.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

iPhone 18 Pro Max Rumored to Deliver Next-Level Battery Life

Friday February 6, 2026 5:14 am PST by
The iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a bigger battery for continued best-in-class battery life, according to a known Weibo leaker. Citing supply chain information, the Weibo user known as "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a battery capacity of 5,100 to 5,200 mAh. Combined with the efficiency improvements of the A20 Pro chip, made with TSMC's 2nm process, the...

Top Rated Comments

dantracht Avatar
33 months ago
New iPhone to feature camera that is better than the previous model. I hate to always sound so cynical and I’m getting old but…..we know this!
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Carmenia83 Avatar
33 months ago

Lol. Mind blown. Sorry but when the mighty 3GS dropped it was a game changer for like $300. Now, 20 years later the screen is bigger and plans are more expensive.. but the entry price just doesn’t match the features to me.
The 3GS wasn't $300, that was the two year contract subsidized price. It was $600 without it. Adjusted for inflation, that's around $850 today.

The plans weren't cheaper either. AT&T was charging $40/mo for the base voice plan, and then $30/mo for unlimited data, and another $5/mo for 200 text messages or $20/mo for unlimited texts. So you were realistically paying $90/mo plus tax for unlimited data and messaging. Even including the phone subsidy in those figures, it was much more expensive to have an iPhone in 2009 than it is today.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coffeemilktea Avatar
33 months ago
48 megapixels? The pictures I take of my cat are going to look SO smooth now. :cool:
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iLoveDeveloping Avatar
33 months ago
If 48mp goes to normal 15’s they will sell like crazy! People think they want the 48mp, as I did. After 6 months with my 14 Pro I barely ever use it and that has nothing to do with space. In most photos you will barely see a difference, I am completely underwhelmed by it. Apple really pushed it this year like it’s a breakthrough but I just don’t see a massive difference. When printing it out (which most people don’t these days) or zooming in and crops maybe, a little. But otherwise absolutely not.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
klasma Avatar
33 months ago

New iPhone to feature camera that is better than the previous model. I hate to always sound so cynical and I’m getting old but…..we know this!
The new information is about how it will be better.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dantracht Avatar
33 months ago

Lol. Mind blown. Sorry but when the mighty 3GS dropped it was a game changer for like $300. Now, 20 years later the screen is bigger and plans are more expensive.. but the entry price just doesn’t match the features to me.

Give me an iOS fold the way only apple knows how and I’ll get onboard.

I get the operating model though. Consistent slow updates, maintain value and brand and keep it churning.

I just wish it had the magic where we would reinvent every few generations.

Don’t get me wrong still my favourite phone I can buy but surely a trillion dollar company can capture the imagination better than I can.
Those days are long gone my friend. iPhone is a mature model now, incremental updates are all we are going to get.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)