Malcolm Owen
Another image has surfaced, doubling down on the rumors that the iPhone 16 will use a vertical camera arrangement on the back of the device.
On Friday, a leaked part image claimed to prove that Apple was going to use a vertical camera arrangement in the iPhone 16. One day later, another photo leak seems to promote the idea further.
A photograph posted to Weibo and caught by Macotakara depicts what is thought to be the rear panel of the iPhone 16. The publication thinks it could be the panel for the "iPhone 16 PVT model."
There is the belief that the rear cameras are similar in size to the main and ultra-wide angle cameras of the iPhone 15 Pro, designed as if the telephoto camera had been left out.
The leak also points to the possibility of the iPhone 16 incorporating the True Tone flash between the two cameras, and the potential of an extra hole used to fit a LiDAR scanner.
The report follows after a claim from a known and questionable leaker about a vertical-positioned camera system in the iPhone 16. There were also renders released in December that offered a similar camera configuration.
The change offers Apple a few benefits, not least the ability to use similar cameras in the iPhone 16 and the Pro models, but also the ability for the iPhone 16 to capture Spatial Video. The feature requires cameras to be placed next to each other, so a vertical arrangement on the iPhone 16 would translate to side-by-side cameras when held in a landscape orientation.
Macotakara is generally accurate when discussing leaks and rumors about future iPhone models. With the inclusion of Friday's rumor, the Saturday leak seems to be highly plausible.
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
4 Comments
Well, this does align with the vertical pill shape ipad camera rumors…
Given that it's necessary to record spatial video, and all future Apple devices will have to be able to record spatial video if Apple is going to establish the standard, this really is a no-brainer.
So what of the iPhone 16 pro max? 3 lenses in a pill arrangement?
Make the image sensors square. Place the flash above them. No more camera rotation to choose between horizontal or vertical (although this could be a settings option) and the flash is always in the “right place”. Allow for off-camera flash synchronization. Please!