With each new iPhone release, Apple introduces fresh features to its camera system, and the iPhone 15 series continues this tradition. MacRumors has acquired in-depth details about the camera systems in the iPhone 15 series, encompassing the base iPhone 15 with its enhanced 48-megapixel camera, all the way to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which boasts a novel periscope telephoto lens.”
iPhone 15 and 15 Plus
1.Primary Camera: Equipped with a 48-megapixel image sensor and a wide ƒ/1.6 aperture.
2.Wide-angle Camera: Featuring a 12-megapixel image sensor and a spacious ƒ/2.4 aperture.
The upcoming base models of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are anticipated to sport a brand-new 48-megapixel Sony image sensor, a significant leap from the 12-megapixel Main camera found on the iPhone 14. This higher megapixel count promises enhanced image resolution and finer details. It’s noteworthy that multiple sources, including industry experts Jeff Pu and Ming-Chi Kuo, as well as Weibo user “Digital Chat Station,” have consistently supported this claim.
The iPhone 15 is not expected to adopt the same Sony IMX-803 image sensor featured in the iPhone 14 Pro. Instead, it will employ a distinct Sony sensor boasting improved capabilities.
There is evidence to suggest that Apple conducted testing with various configurations for the base model iPhone 15. One of these prototypes reportedly included the rumored stacked camera sensor system, while another did not. Currently, it remains uncertain whether the final production units will incorporate the stacked sensor system. Stacked camera sensors offer advantages such as quicker readout speeds and enhanced performance in low-light conditions.
iPhone 15 Pro
Primary Camera: Boasting 48 megapixels, it harnesses the power of the Sony IMX-803 image sensor and features a wide ƒ/1.78 aperture.
Telephoto Camera: Equipped with a 12.7-megapixel resolution and a ƒ/2.8 aperture.
Wide-Angle Camera: Featuring a 13.4-megapixel sensor and an ƒ/2.2 aperture.
Regarding the iPhone 15 Pro, enhancements primarily target the Telephoto and Ultra Wide cameras, while the Main camera retains the Sony IMX-803 image sensor, consistent with its predecessor, the iPhone 14 Pro. This detail contradicts earlier speculations that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max would adopt the Sony IMX-903 image sensor. Both the Ultra Wide and Telephoto cameras will undergo improvements in comparison to the iPhone 14 Pro, offering superior image quality and the capability to capture higher-resolution photos.
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Primary Camera: Equipped with a 48-megapixel resolution, the Sony IMX-803 image sensor, and a wide ƒ/1.78 aperture.
Telephoto Camera: Featuring a 12.7-megapixel sensor, a ƒ/2.8 aperture, and employing a periscope lens.
Wide-Angle Camera: Equipped with a 13.4-megapixel sensor and an ƒ/2.2 aperture.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max stands out as the most intriguing addition to the lineup. MacRumors has corroborated information from industry sources, confirming the inclusion of an entirely new periscope lens system for the Telephoto camera, in line with earlier assertions by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. This adoption of periscope zoom technology promises significant enhancements to the zoom capabilities of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Unlike conventional cameras, which position the image sensor directly beneath the camera lens, folded optics systems employ angled mirrors to redirect light towards the image sensor. This directional shift allows for optical zoom that surpasses the capabilities of a standard telephoto camera system.
The decision to initially introduce the periscope lens exclusively in the iPhone 15 Pro Max appears to stem from spatial limitations. According to insights from our sources, the camera module utilized in the iPhone 15 Pro Max is, to some extent, larger compared to the camera modules in the iPhone 14 Pro models and the smaller iPhone 15 Pro. This enlargement accommodates the necessary periscope lens hardware, necessitating adjustments to other internal components such as the midframe assembly.
Looking ahead to 2024, the iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to undergo an increase in size to 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches, offering Apple the room needed to incorporate the periscope lens in both the Pro and Pro Max models. As pointed out by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, periscope zoom functionality will not be exclusive to the larger Pro Max within the iPhone 16 lineup.
