The iPhone 15 lineup won’t be unveiled for a few months yet, but it’s never too early for iPhone 16 rumors, right? A new report out of Asia claims next year’s iPhone 16 Pro Max handset will be the first iPhone to boast a super telephoto periscope camera for dramatically increased optical zoom.
The claim comes from the “Digital Chat Station” Weibo account, which has previously provided accurate information about Apple’s future plans.
As noted by MacRumors, to be labeled “super” or “ultra” telephoto requires cameras with a focal length over 300mm, which can drastically magnify and pull in distant subjects. Both the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro models’ telephoto cameras have a focal length equivalent to 77mm, so a focal length in excess of 300mm for the iPhone 16 Pro Max would be a HUGE increase.
Photographers use super telephoto cameras to shoot photos of sports and wild animals. Additionally, the resulting extremely soft backgrounds also make them ideal for portrait photography, as long as there is enough distance between the subject and the photographer.
Apple is expected to upgrade the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s camera system to a periscope telephoto camera system this year. which would help facilitate the rumored change to the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s camera system. Apple is rumored to be bringing the telephoto camera system to both iPhone 16 “Pro” models, as the smaller model’s size is expected to be increased, allowing for the new camera. However, if the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the sole “Pro” model with the super telephoto periscope camera will help Apple differentiate the two high-end iPhone models.
The Weibo account also repeated a previous claim that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature a 12% larger camera sensor, 1/1.14 inches in size. Currently, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models boast a 1/1.28-inch sensor and that sensor size is expected to stand pat for this year’s iPhone 15 Pro Max. A larger sensor generally improves a camera’s dynamic range and background blur, while also substantially enhancing low-light photography capabilities.
While Digital Chat Station did not explicitly name the iPhone 16 Pro Max, it is believed to relate specifically to that handset due to their previous predictions.
