According to reports, the four-prism telephoto camera of the iPhone 15 Pro Max will appear on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max next year, but there will be some changes. Unfortunately, as demand picks up, Apple's efforts to increase lens specifications may increase production costs by 30%. At this time, it's unclear whether Apple will pass these increased costs on to customers in 2024.
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As demand for the iPhone 15 Pro Max grows, expectations for the launch of upgraded versions of the four-prism telephoto camera iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max next year are also growing. In order to meet the demand in 2024, Apple will have to find ways to improve the camera module. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in his Medium blog post that the tech giant has asked its suppliers to improve lens specifications to increase production. This process should produce more precise lens assemblies and compensate for module assembly tolerances.
Unfortunately, this decision will come with a major flaw. Ming-Chi Kuo pointed out that improving lens specifications and expanding production will mean that the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s telephoto lens will increase by about 30%, reaching US$6-6.5. However, if both Pro models can be upgraded with telephoto lenses next year, iPhone shipments equipped with telephoto lenses will increase by about 110% year-on-year by 2024.
"iPhone16ProMax and iPhone16Pro will be equipped with four-prism telephoto cameras and are likely to maintain the current high specifications to ensure camera performance and output. I predict that iPhone shipments equipped with four-prism telephoto cameras will increase by about 110% year-on-year in 2024, reaching 70-80 million units."
Although a 30% increase in the cost of telephoto cameras is difficult for any company to digest, Ming-Chi Kuo reported that since the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be the main driver of Apple's fourth-quarter revenue and profit data, Apple will agree to pay a premium as long as it has the full support of supplier Largan Optoelectronics.
According to reports, both iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will be equipped with telephoto cameras next year, but the largest model is likely to have an exclusive "super telephoto" device to help drive sales, as well as three new cameras that can interact wirelessly with Apple Vision Pro.