Next-gen Camera Module in iPhone 15 Pro Max
According to Korean media The Elec, Apple is set to introduce a new periscopic/folding zoom lens for its upcoming iPhone 15 series, set to be released later this year. The lens will be supplied by LG Innotek and Jahwa Electronics, with the two companies expected to account for 70 percent and 30 percent of the share respectively. Japan’s Alps, an existing iPhone camera partner, is expected to struggle to secure orders from Apple this year.
The periscope lens relies on prisms that reflect light into multiple internal lenses that are at 90 degrees to the camera sensor. This makes the lens much longer than a traditional telephoto lens, resulting in a better optical zoom.
The telephoto lens on the iPhone 13 Pro model only offers 3x optical zoom and 15x digital zoom. In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra features a periscopic lens that allows for 10x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom. Rumors suggest that Apple may opt for a 5x optical zoom.
LG Innotek is expected to supply not only the folded zoom as its main supply this time but also to account for more than half of the actuators for the folded zoom. The actuator is a key part of folded zoom, and the ball guide type actuator is highly profitable. New technologies from LG Innotek and Jahwa Electronics allow for the creation of smaller camera modules that increase the optical zoom range of the iPhone.
This new periscope telephoto camera will be applied to the top model of the iPhone 15 series, the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It will be interesting to see how this new technology will perform and how it will be compared to other smartphones currently on the market.
It is also rumored that next year’s iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, which are set to be released in the second half of 2024, will also come equipped with periscope telephoto cameras. The rumored specifications include a 12-megapixel resolution, 1/3-inch base, f/2.8 aperture, sensor-shift stabilization, and 5x optical zoom.
Overall, it seems that Apple is pushing the boundaries of camera technology with the introduction of the periscopic/folding zoom lens for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. With the help of LG Innotek and Jahwa Electronics, Apple is set to revolutionize its camera strength. We’ll have to wait and see how this new technology performs.
