Periscope camera exclusive to Ultra iPhone models through 2024

iPhone 15 Ultra to gain periscope lens

A new note from Ming-Chi Kuo states that Apple will include a periscope camera in only one model through 2025 — the iPhone 15 Ultra and iPhone 16 Ultra.

Apple has been rumored to include a super zoom, or periscope camera in its premium iPhones for years. It seems the iPhone 15 Ultra will finally get the feature, and it will remain exclusive to Apple's largest and most premium model through the iPhone 16 cycle.

According to a tweet from Ming-Chi Kuo, the supply chain had expected the periscope camera to come to both iPhone 16 Pro models in 2024, not just the Ultra. No reason was provided for this change, but it is expected this will hurt revenue projections for the companies that provide the lenses.

(3/5)
Only one/the highest-end model of the new 2H24 iPhone 16 series may have a periscope camera, not the two models of market expectation. It's detrimental to Largan and Genius since the demand for lens upgrades will fall below expectations.
— (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) January 31, 2023

A periscope lens is basically a folded lens that fits a longer optical zoom into a small space by turning the lens elements long-ways into the phone. Users are able to achieve much higher zoom without digital crop thanks to this — 3x could jump to 10x or 50x depending on Apple's implementation.

The iPhone 15 Ultra is a name placeholder for the future 6.7-inch premium iPhone. Apple's naming schemes shift from time to time, and it is expected that the iPhone 15 Ultra is going to replace the iPhone 14 Pro Max in the lineup. So, this rumor suggests only the large pro iPhone will get the periscope camera through the next two cycles.

Kuo has been leaking information about Apple's plans for a periscope camera for a while now. He believes Apple will use alternative suppliers like Largan and Genius instead of Samsung.

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15 Comments

mike1

said about 1 year ago

Unless there is a real lack of space in the smaller version, I would hope that all the features are the same between the two Pro/Ultra models.\

I would upgrade for this feature alone, but do not want the larger screen size at all.

WhiskeyAPPLEcider

said about 1 year ago

I doubt that will happen from here on out, Apple hasn’t differentiated between the two pro models as well as they should have in the past. Now they have the Ultra models for that exact reason, Samsung has their flagship model as well as most companies whether it’s a tech company or automobile company. In order for it to be Ultra it will have to have “exclusive” features. Lots of people don’t want to pay $1200 for a flagship phone just for the lower models to have the same features next year now we all have the same phone. That’ll help Apple with sales because those exclusive features will propel people to buy the flagship Ultra instead of the smaller Pro model.

igorsky

said about 1 year ago

mike1 said:

Unless there is a real lack of space in the smaller version, I would hope that all the features are the same between the two Pro/Ultra models.

Then what would be the point of the Ultra model?

damn_its_hot

said about 1 year ago

I'm all for the larger screen -- it allows me to bump the font size by a point and read much easier w/o losing content off edge. I see your point -- carrying a large iPhone sometimes feels like carrying an iPad mini instead of a phone 😄 ✌️to all.