A new analysis by Ming-Chi Kuo says that Apple will only include the periscope camera in a single model by 2025 – the iPhone 15 Ultra and iPhone 16 Ultra.
For years, there have been rumors that Apple will equip its premium iPhones with a superzoom or periscope camera. It looks like the iPhone 15 Ultra will finally get this feature and it will remain exclusive to Apple's largest and most premium model until the iPhone 16 cycle. According to a tweet from Ming-Chi Kuo, the supply chain had expectedthat the periscope camera would be available on both iPhone 16 Pro models in 2024, rather than just the Ultra. A reason for this change was not given, but it is expected to negatively impact the revenue forecasts of the companies that supply the lenses. A periscope lens is essentially a folded lens that allows for longer optical zoom in a small space by rotating the lens elements far into the phone.
Will the iPhone 15 Ultra replace the iPhone 14 Pro Max?
This will allow users to achieve a much higher zoom without digital cropping - depending on Apple's implementation, 3x could become 10x or 50x. The iPhone 15 Ultra is a name placeholder for the future 6.7-inch premium iPhone. Apple's naming scheme changes from time to time and the iPhone 15 Ultra is expected to replace the iPhone 14 Pro Max. So this rumor suggests that only the big Pro iPhone will get the periscope camera in the next two cycles. Kuo leaked information about Apple's plans for a periscope camera some time ago. He believes that Apple will use alternative suppliers such as Largan and Genius instead of Samsung. (Photo by Unsplash / Victor Serban)