Major Camera Upgrades Coming to Future iPhones [Kuo]

The tetraprism camera, first introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, is set for significant enhancements over the next few years, according to a new report from TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. This will bring improved photo quality and zoom capabilities to users.

In a recent post, Kuo outlines a possible timeline for camera updates...

iPhone 16 (2H24)
Both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are expected to feature a tetraprism camera with the same specifications as the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This enhancement will increase the penetration rate of the advanced camera system from 35-40% in the iPhone 15 series to 60-65% in the iPhone 16 series. Consequently, this will drive a year-over-year growth of 160% in shipments. The increased shipments will significantly boost Crystal-Optech's revenue and profit.


iPhone 17 (2H25) & iPhone 18 (2H26)
The high-end iPhone 17 models will purportedly boast an upgraded tetraprism camera with a larger 1/2.6" 48MP CIS, a significant step up from the current 1/3.1" 12MP CIS. This upgrade will deliver sharper images and better zoom functionality. It's currently unclear if this upgrade will be exclusive to the iPhone 17 Pro Max. If so, the iPhone 18 Pro in 2H26 will also feature this enhanced tetraprism camera. The upgraded camera will incorporate a newly designed, shorter prism to reduce the camera's height.

iPhone 19 (2H27)
The iPhone 19 series in 2027 is expected to bring another significant upgrade to the tetraprism camera, with improvements that will surpass those of the iPhone 17 and iPhone 18. The new camera is expected to support better optical zoom. Kuo suggests this could be accomplished by increasing the number of prisms to lengthen the light path (in which case, it would no longer be called a tetraprism). As the number of prisms increases, the prism size may need to be reduced, increasing the complexity of the prism design.

Apple's planned upgrades are likely to deliver significant enhancements in photo quality and zoom functionality over the next few years. While the company has never focused on the having the most megapixels or highest zoom level, it aims to capture clearer, more detailed, and more accurate images than its rivals.

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