APPLE

Ming-Chi Kuo: iPhone 15 Pro Max, the periscope lens will cost little

The periscope camera lens that will be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be supplied exclusively by Largan, according to the last note by Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

The rumors about the iPhone with a periscope lens they’ve been around since early 2020, when Kuo first mentioned that possibility. The analyst initially claimed that a periscope lens would be a feature of the iPhone 14 Pros, but as we know that hasn’t happened. Since then, Kuo has maintained that the new lens will debut exclusively on iPhone 15 Pro Maxa prediction that analyst Jeff Pu also made.

In a periscope system, light entering the telephoto lens is reflected by an angled mirror back to the camera’s image sensor. Changing the direction in which light travels allows for a “folded” telephoto setup inside the phones, allowing users to further zoom in on the image without blurring.

Kuo’s last note is contextualized in terms of two risks that lens providers camera lenses face going forward: high inventory levels leading to a weaker-than-expected second quarter and suppliers unable to profit from periscope camera lenses.

According to Kuo, the average selling price for periscope camera lenses shipped from Largan it is about $4 (prisms included), which is considerably lower than the average market price which is also as low as $5. Kuo states that the price of 4 dollars it means Largan can’t profit from the periscope camera lens, but it will have benefits related to entering Apple’s supply chain for new iPhones.

Looking ahead, Kuo believes that both iPhone 16 Pro models in 2024 will use the same periscope lens as the one used in the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ Max, with Apple continuing its trend of distinguishing Standard and Pro models by reserving certain hardware for high end. characteristics for the latter.

Vendor Apple Genius is expected to begin supplying periscope lenses for the iPhone 16, at which point the price of the component will be even lower, negatively impacting lens vendors, Kuo said.

by Giuseppe Migliorino