A new rumor from leaker Digital Chat Station claims that Apple is investigating the use of multi-spectral camera technology on its iPhone lineup. The technology would not only be valuable to iPhone photographers, but could also aid the device’s Visual Intelligence feature.
While multi-spectral imaging captures image data across different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, iPhone cameras to date have focused on the red, green, and blue (RGB) elements that are visible to the human eye.
By capturing more of the spectrum, Visual Intelligence could provide improved object and background detection, while also improving depth perception, allowing Visual Intelligence to better recognize spatial environments.
As for regular photography, it could provide improved image processing, and could possibly be used for infra-red photography.
While these features would definitely be a boon for iPhone users, we likely will not see any of these new features in the near future. Digital Chat Station notes that at this point in time, Apple is merely investigating the use of the technology.
Will the iPhone 18 miss out on a 200MP camera? Actually, it never had one. We previously mentioned that the Pro series engineering prototypes had a 48MP± “variable aperture” main camera and a 48MP± large aperture periscope telephoto lens.
The 200MP sensor is in the material testing phase, using a Samsung sensor. Another piece of information is that Apple is also interested in “multispectral” sensors; the supply chain is evaluating them, but testing hasn’t started yet. Speaking of imaging, Chinese phone manufacturers are definitely more forward-thinking.
The post on Weibo also claims that the iPhone 18 Pro’s camera system will offer a variable aperture, and the model’s telephoto lens will boast a larger aperture than the iPhone 17 lineup.
Digital Chat Station has a somewhat hit and miss record when it comes to Apple rumors, so take all of this wil a grain of your favorite low-sodium seasoning.
(Via AppleInsider)
