iPhone 16 Could Drop Bulky Cameras For Sleeker And Sharper Lenses With Better Optical Zoom

Although it’s been only one month since Apple Inc. AAPL launched its latest smartphone series, the iPhone 15 lineup, but rumors about the iPhone 16 have already started doing rounds, with the latest suggesting molded glass lenses and improved optical zoom.

What Happened: iPhone 16 Pro might adopt molded glass lenses to address two key issues: the thickness and weight of the camera bump and an enhanced optical zoom, reported AppleInsider, citing Economic Daily News.

Molded glass lenses are known for their thinner and lighter nature, making them an ideal choice for slimming down the camera system. In particular, they could be crucial in accommodating a rumored 120 mm Telephoto camera.

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This approach might allow Apple to maintain existing focal lengths, such as the 24 mm wide-angle lens, and provide greater magnification while significantly reducing the overall thickness of the camera module.

This will help make more room in the smaller iPhone 16 Pro model, which will already be filled with the tetraprism crystal needed for the Telephoto lens if the rumors about the longer Telephoto lens are true.

Adopting molded lenses is a complex endeavor, but suppliers are reportedly gearing up for the 2024 iPhone lineup, suggesting that Apple is actively pursuing this technology, the report noted.

Why It’s Important: Previously, it was reported that the iPhone 16 Pro could come with a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera sensor, up from the current 12-megapixel sensor. Moreover, Cupertino has reportedly considered adopting Wi-Fi 7 technology for the iPhone 16 Pro lineup.

There are also rumors about Apple’s display suppliers, Samsung and LG, offering to apply micro-lens arrays (MLA) to the OLED panels of next year’s iPhone 16 to make the display brighter and more efficient. 

Earlier this year, it was also reported that the iPhone 16 Pro Max model would be dubbed the iPhone 16 Ultra, as it could have a larger display size.

Meanwhile, the ongoing rise in parts prices suggests that the iPhone 16 lineup might be more expensive.

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