Apple is trying to equip iPhone 16 Pro, Pro Max with tetraprism lens for telephoto camera

Next year, Apple may introduce a tetraprism telephoto lens in its upcoming iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models, as reported by sources.

Earlier in the year, Apple launched the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, with the latter featuring an enhanced telephoto lens providing 5x optical zoom, surpassing the 3x optical zoom capability of the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

According to a MacRumors report citing anonymous insiders, Apple is planning to incorporate its new tetraprism telephoto lens into both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max in 2024. This technology utilizes a compact glass structure with a prism, enabling the iPhone’s top-tier models to reflect light four times and enhance optical zoom, a feature prominently present in the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Speculations suggest that the larger size of the iPhone 16 Pro models could accommodate an improved telephoto camera in the smaller variant.

However, integrating this camera technology posed challenges for Apple due to space constraints, resulting in only the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max being equipped with the tetraprism telephoto camera this year.

Recent reports suggest that Apple intends to increase the display sizes of both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max to 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches, respectively, up from 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches.

The report also indicates that internal documentation suggests similarities in the tetraprism module and camera design between the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

It remains unclear whether Apple plans to employ the same camera setup for both iPhone 16 Pro models, mirroring the configuration in the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

This isn’t the first time such claims have surfaced. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from TF Securities asserted in both September and November that the iPhone 16 Pro would feature this advanced camera technology.

Notably, Kuo had previously predicted that Apple would not equip the iPhone 15 Pro with the same telephoto lens as the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

(With inputs from agencies)