iPhone 16 Pro Max camera tipped to get Ultra Telephoto lens, could surpass Android flagships

Apple is looking to outdo Android smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra with an introduction of an Ultra or Super Telephoto lens next year. This upgrade is expected to make its way to the flagship, iPhone 16 Pro Max model. The move is not surprising considering how this year’s iPhone 15 series is expected to feature a major update in zooming capabilities.

Ultra Telephoto Lens in iPhone 16 Pro Max

Digital Chat Station, a reliable tipster on China’s Weibo, detailed the components of this upcoming camera setup in a post. The Ultra Telephoto (also called Super Telephoto) term is used for cameras with focal lengths greater than 300mm. To recall, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 10X Optical Zoom sensor has a focal length of 230mm.

This will certainly be a big step up from the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro Max‘s 6X optical zoom periscope telephoto camera. The 7-piece lens system is powered by a “super outsole” 1/1.14-inch sensor by Sony. The source also mentions that Apple is still evaluating whether the system is ready for the supply chain. The magnifying lens could make the phone relatively heavier but enable high-resolution photography of subjects far away from the user.

It is possible that this phone could rather be called iPhone 16 Ultra due to a higher spec differentiation from the standard Pro model. Earlier rumours claimed a 6.9-inch display for the smartphone and solid-state buttons that were dropped from the iPhone 15 series. It is also expected to be the first iPhone with an in-house Apple-designed modem.