Periscope Zoom Lens Technology for iPhone 15 Pro Max
Rumors have been circulating about Apple’s plan to incorporate periscope zoom lens technology in the upcoming iPhone 15, specifically for the larger-sized iPhone 15 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 15 Pro will feature a regular zoom lens, while the iPhone 15 models will be equipped with Wide and Ultra Wide lenses only.
The integration of periscope lens technology will offer optical zoom capabilities that surpass those of a typical telephoto lens, enabling 5x or even 10x optical zoom. This advancement will significantly enhance the iPhone’s zoom capabilities, as the current Pro models are limited to 3x zoom.
In a periscope lens system, light is redirected by an angled mirror towards the camera’s image sensor. This directional shift allows for a “folded” telephoto lens arrangement, resulting in improved optical zoom without the blurriness often associated with digital zoom.
Apple’s competitor, Samsung, has already introduced smartphones with periscope lens technology, allowing for 4x to 10x optical zoom and even up to 100x digital zoom. According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, when Apple adopts periscope lens technology, they are expected to implement 6x optical zoom capabilities.
Qualcomm Modem Chips
For the 2023 iPhone 15 lineup, Apple will continue to utilize Qualcomm’s 5G modem chips, as it has done since the introduction of 5G iPhones. Although there were rumors suggesting that Apple might introduce its own in-house modem chips as early as 2023, the technology won’t be ready until at least 2024.
All iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models will incorporate the same Qualcomm modem chip, likely the X70. The X70 chip from Qualcomm offers various improvements, including enhanced AI for faster processing speeds, better coverage range, improved signal quality, lower latency, and up to 60% improved power efficiency.
SIM Card Tray
With the release of the iPhone 14 models, Apple eliminated the SIM card tray in devices sold in the United States. In the case of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models, it is speculated that the SIM tray may be removed in additional countries.
Rumors indicate that France could be the first country where the SIM tray is eliminated, and if this happens, it could extend to iPhones sold in other European countries such as Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and the UK.
Wi-Fi 6E
Leaked iPhone 15 Wi-Fi chip diagrams confirm that Apple is upgrading to Wi-Fi 6E, but this feature will be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro models. The standard iPhone 15 models will continue to use Wi-Fi 6.
Compared to Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E offers more bandwidth, resulting in faster connectivity speeds, lower latency, and increased capacity. Wi-Fi 6E provides an additional 1.2GHz spectrum in the 6GHz band, enabling whole-home gigabit coverage and multi-gigabit connectivity for venues. It also supports higher data streams necessary for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) experiences.
A-Series Chips
The iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to be the first to feature an A-series chip built on Apple supplier TSMC’s advanced 3-nanometer node. This 3nm chip technology is anticipated to boost processing performance by 10% to 15% while reducing power consumption by up to 35%.
The faster 3nm chips will be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max variants.