Primax tipped to be building dual-lens camera modules for 'iPhone 7 Plus'

A Taiwanese supplier, Primax Electronics, will be manufacturing at least some of the dual-lens camera modules for Apple's "iPhone 7" line, a report indicated on Tuesday.

The firm recently increased its camera module capacity by 10 percent, and should now be able to manufacture about 12 million units per month, said the Chinese-language Economic Daily News, quoted by DigiTimes. About 70 percent of the company's camera output is claimed to 13-megapixel modules — which may hint at the resolution Apple is using, although Primax notably has other clients in this field.

Numerous leaks and rumors have indicated that Apple is equipping an "iPhone 7 Plus" with a dual-lens camera, though the exact role of the second lens is still unclear. While optical zoom may be the most obvious use, a dual-lens system could also be used to improve image fidelity, and/or shoot stereoscopic 3D.

In June, a Korean report said that LG Innotek would be the sole supplier of dual-lens modules for Apple, filling in because of setbacks at Sony. If accurate the EDN claim likely suggests that Apple is now using multiple suppliers, rather than replacing LG, given the production scale a company like Apple demands.

Both the "Plus" and the regular "iPhone 7" should ship next month. The latter is expected to have an improved single-lens camera, possibly with optical image stabilization.