Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the 2024 iPhone 16 Pro Max (or Ultra if Apple changes its iPhone naming scheme) will continue to be the only iPhone model that will get a higher-end, upgraded periscope camera with a new zoom feature next year, Macrumors reports.

As has been rumored many times before, Apple is limiting the periscope lens technology to the larger iPhone 15Pro Max this year, likely because of the space needed for the hardware. Keeping the periscope lens exclusive to the iPhone 16Pro Max will also see Apple break with the tradition of often introducing new features as exclusive to one iPhone and then expanding to other iPhone models when the next generation of devices is released.

Kuo's information contradicts a recent report by The Elec, which said that both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will offer a "folding zoom" periscope lens next year.

When using a periscope lens, light is reflected through a tilted mirror to the image sensor in the camera. The directional shift allows the telephoto lens system to be "collapsed" to improve optical zoom without the blurring of digital zoom.

The periscope lens technology is already being used by Apple competitors like Samsung, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max could have up to 6x optical zoom, an improvement over the iPhone 14 Pro model's current 3x optical zoom.

Over the past few years, the Pro and Pro Max iPhones have offered similar features, with battery life having been the main distinguishing feature between the devices, in addition to display size. Limiting the periscope zoom technology to the Pro Max may frustrate those who prefer to have the latest technology but don't care for the larger 6.7-inch size.

As Apple adds more features to the larger 6.7-inch iPhone 15 "Pro Max," there are rumors that it could be called the iPhone 15 Ultra, similar to the Apple Watch Ultra.

This article is reprinted from: Zhongguancun Online.