The two products of the iPhone 15 Pro series have a big difference in configuration, from the most significant camera module, the iPhone 15 Pro telephoto lens still only supports up to 3x optical zoom, which is in line with the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. The iPhone 15 Pro Max uses a new four-prism telephoto module, and the light path enters the CMOS after four reflections, achieving the extension of the light path in a small volume.
Thanks to this four-prism telephoto structure, the iPhone 15 Pro Max gets up to 5x optical zoom and up to 25x digital zoom capability. And users want to experience higher multiples of optical zoom effect can only bite the teeth on the Pro Max model. The starting price difference between the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max is as much as 2,000 yuan.
But now there seems to be good news. On the iPhone 16 Pro model, we are also expected to see this quad-prism telephoto system, which will provide the same 5x optical telephoto for the iPhone 16 Pro, unifying the image system specifications of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max.
Tianfeng International industry analyst Guo Mingd «“¹ previously said in September this year that the two iPhone Pro models in 2024 will have this configuration, and recently he has more emphasis on this
Guo's forecast is based on a report from parts supplier Dalit Optoelectronics, which expects to increase its sales to Apple next year South Korean technology website The Elec also reported that LG Innotek encountered the same situation. The Elec mentioned in the report that "Apple plans to increase the number of folding zoom models in the iPhone 16 series to two next year, and LG Innotek is expected to benefit from it" - this conclusion comes from industry sources. LG Innotek is expected to increase its share in the OIS(optical stabilization) module market for the iPhone 16 series to be released next year.
It is worth mentioning that the OIS module in the iPhone 15 Pro Max is exclusively provided by LG Innotek. The Elec reported that several companies, including LG Innotek, Jahwa Electric and SONY, are facing difficulties in production yield. The Elec believes Apple has concluded that LG Innotek is best able to meet demand.
However, it should be noted that if Apple wants to bring the quadriprism telephoto module to the iPhone 16 Pro model, it will have to increase the number of suppliers of this part to avoid the production lag problem that occurred in the production of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
The iPhone 15 Pro does not have a quadriprism telephoto module is not only Apple out of product positioning considerations. The body of the iPhone 15 Pro is 6.1 inches, compared to the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max, it is difficult to maintain a larger and thicker telephoto module. However, it is reported that the iPhone 16 Pro will have a larger 6.3-inch display compared to the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro. This change will increase the overall size of the device, thereby providing additional internal space for the four-prism telephoto module.
But in fact, if you simply put the 5x optical telephoto "down" to the iPhone 16 Pro, it seems that some users will not be happy. At present, the iPhone 15 Pro Max only supports 5 times the light change in the telephoto end, and if you want to use 3 times the zoom, you can only cut it, and the picture is indeed worse - with 5 times the 3 times lost. In contrast, the iPhone 15 Pro retains the previous 3 times the optical telephoto, 77mm focal segment seems to be more suitable for users in the daily life scene shooting, 120mm want to maintain the same composition, you need to retreat to a further place, the recent focus distance will be further than 77mm.
Therefore, if Apple wants to improve the telephoto experience of the device, in addition to making the focal length longer, it should also ensure the user's experience in the actual use process. Apple has "innovatively" integrated 24mm, 28mm and 35mm options into the 1x option, I wonder if we can do something with the 3x 77mm focal segment? In today's AI performance continues to improve, let AI participate in the shooting process to achieve better imaging effects believe that it is not difficult for Apple, and it is not a good habit to make choices for users.
In addition to the iPhone 16 Pro may be equipped with a four-prism telephoto module, Haitong International Securities technical analyst Jeff Pu previously said that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be equipped with an upgraded version of the 48-megapixel ultra-wide Angle lens. This will effectively improve the user's shooting effect in 0.5 times ultra-wide Angle mode, and the imaging resolution will be higher and the details will be richer. Overall, the telephoto system on the iPhone 16 Pro series is still worth looking forward to.