Respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that the tetraprism lens, currently unique to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, will bring back the photographic consistency of earlier models by incorporating a 5x zoom equivalent lens in both iPhone 16 Pro versions.

In a Medium post, Kuo mentions Largan, Apple’s primary lens supplier. He states, “Apple is Largan’s largest customer, and Largan is also Apple’s largest lens supplier. Therefore, the quote likely refers to the fact that the new iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will have a tetraprism camera in 2H24 (while only the iPhone 15 Pro Max had this camera in 2H23).”

Interestingly, the report notes that there will be no changes in the tetraprism camera this fall compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. “The tetraprism camera specifications for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are identical to those for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and the Largan shipment price has not changed,” it says. Kuo interprets this as Largan’s competitive edge, as typically, Apple would negotiate a lower price for a second-year supply of the same component.

Currently, the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers superior telephoto zoom, while the iPhone 15 Pro only provides a 3x zoom equivalent. When asked last September why this disparity existed, Apple attributed it to the smaller size of the iPhone 15 Pro, which couldn’t accommodate the larger zoom lens.

The upcoming iPhone 16 Pro models are rumored to be slightly larger, potentially allowing for the 5x zoom lens. According to a new supplier report in DigiTimes, “Largan supplied periscope lenses for the premium iPhone 15 Pro Max launched last year. This year, more models in the upcoming iPhone lineup will feature periscope lenses. GSEO is likely to join as a new supplier for this year’s iPhones.”

This isn’t the first speculation on the topic. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from TFI Securities suggested in October 2023 that the iPhone 16 Pro would include Apple’s tetraprism lens, which is aesthetically designed to look nearly identical to other lenses. Apple’s attention to such detail is unmatched.

While two reports don’t confirm a fact, they do indicate a promising trend. Including the 5x zoom lens in the iPhone 16 Pro would be a sensible move for Apple, given its popularity and the demand among iPhone 15 Pro users who were deterred by the Pro Max’s size and cost.

Aligning the cameras of the Pro and Pro Max models in the next generation would mark a strategic improvement, and it seems Apple is heading in that direction.