What you should know
– The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the first iPhone equipped with a periscope lens, using four prisms to provide 5x optical zoom
– Apple plans to add the Tetraprism lens to the iPhone 16 Pro in 2024
– Largan expects to supply 85% to 90% of the Tetraprism zoom cameras used by Apple in 2024, increasing profits and production of the periscope lens
Full Story
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the first iPhone to feature a periscope lens that is designed to increase the focal length of a smartphone camera without having the lens stick out from the body. It uses a tube running down the length of the inside of the phone with a prism placed at a 90-degree angle at the end of the tube to bounce light to the image sensor. This extends the focal length of the lens to 120mm and delivers 5x optical zoom.
It has been rumored that Apple will add the Tetraprism lens to the iPhone 16 Pro next year. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that Largan’s increased yield on Tetraprism zoom camera production is the reason why Apple can add the feature to the iPhone 16 Pro in 2024. This is further supported by Largan’s ability to raise its production yield on Tetraprism zoom cameras from 40% to 70% during the fourth quarter of 2023.
As Largan is expected to supply 85-90% of the Tetraprism zoom cameras being used by Apple in 2024, it is believed that the company’s profits next year will surpass Wall Street expectations. With yields improving and Apple ordering more periscope cameras from Largan, it means that the company can supply Apple with enough Tetraprism zoom cameras to allow iPhone 16 Pro buyers to experience 5x optical zoom. This additional feature will contribute to the 160% expected increase in the shipment of premium iPhone 16 Pro series units next year compared to the number of iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max units delivered this year.
