This year’s non-Pro iPhone 15 models have been predicted to jump from 12 to 48 megapixels, quadrupling the main rear camera’s resolution.
UPDATE: Reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has learned from his own sources that the base iPhone iPhone 15 models will get a 48-megapixel camera. He said in a July 26 Medium post that the main rear camera on these models will use a new stacked design for the image sensor. The original post continues right ahead.
The iPhone 14 Pros’ 48-megapixel camera could trickle down to non-Pro models this fall, Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu said last month.
The mid-range iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are predicted to jump from twelve to 48 megapixels for the main rear camera (which Apple calls “wide”).
Regular iPhone 15 models getting a 48-megapixel camera
A new report from ITHome echoes Pu’s claims. Sony has allegedly turned to TSMC to help it build some camera parts due to high demand from Apple. ITHome reports that Apple is upgrading all the iPhone 15 models with a 48-megapixel camera.
The company is thought to use a three-stacked 48-megapixel lens for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus vs. the two-stacked one in the iPhone 14 Pros. Pu doesn’t expect the non-Pro iPhone 15 models to adopt the telephoto camera with optical zoom and Apple’s LiDAR scanner from the iPhone Pros.
Based on discussions with supply chain sources, Pu believes the iPhone 15 family will launch in stores on September 23. He added that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro will be available in the same 6.1 and 6.7-inch sizes as the current models.
Earlier reports claim that bigger iPhones are planned for 2025, with the iPhone 16 Pro’s screen allegedly growing from 6.1 inches to around 6.3 inches diagonally and the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s from 6.7 to 6.9 inches.
He also corroborated some previously reported features, including a switch from Lightning to USB-C charging across all models and Apple’s A16 Bionic chip powering the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.
A periscope lens coming to the iPhone 15 Pros
As for the high-end iPhone 15 Pro and the flagship iPhone 15 Pro Max, analysts believe that the company will equip the 12-megapixel telephoto camera on those models with a periscope-style lens allowing for double the optical zoom.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the periscope lens to offer 6x optical zoom. The iPhone 14 Pros have an optical zoom range of 6x, measured from the 0.5x ultra-wide camera to the 3x telephoto one.
Pu also corroborated some of the previously reported features for the iPhone 15 family, including a switch from Lightning to USB-C charging across all models and Apple’s A16 Bionic chip in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.
The Cupertino giant has switched its usual chip strategy with the iPhone 14 family. Now only the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max run the latest Apple processor, the A16, while the non-Pro models use the previous-generation A15.
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are also expected to feature a lighter frame made of titanium instead of stainless steel and run the upcoming A17 chip built on TSMC’s 3-nanometer process technology with eight gigabytes of RAM.
Lastly, Pu expects the iPhone 15 Pros to feature the solid-state volume and power buttons with haptic feedback we were supposed to get with the iPhone 14.