iPhone 15 Pro Max to feature periscope lens

We are on the brink of Apple’s much-anticipated iPhone 15 lineup announcement, with rumors pointing to a special press event in September. Among the speculations, it’s suggested that the iPhone 15 Pro Max will stand out as the only model featuring a periscope lens, significantly enhancing optical zoom capabilities. Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that this exclusive feature will make the priciest iPhone model the top seller.

According to Kuo’s recent report, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is projected to account for 35% to 40% of the total shipments within the iPhone 15 series. This indicates Apple’s emphasis on the higher-priced variant for this year. Moreover, anticipated shipments for the iPhone 15 Pro Max by year-end have seen an approximate 10% increase compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max during a similar period.

Kuo commented in the report, “It means Apple is optimistic about the selling point of the periscope, which is only available in iPhone 15 Pro Max.”

The periscope lens, enhancing optical zoom range considerably, has been a long-standing request from certain iPhone users, particularly professional photographers. Other smartphone manufacturers, such as Samsung with its Galaxy S23 Ultra, have already incorporated this technology.

While it remains unclear why Apple chose to reserve the periscope lens exclusively for the pricier model this year, there are speculations of a potential price increase of up to $200 for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Kuo notes that periscope lenses are four times more expensive than typical lenses, potentially contributing to this decision.

However, Kuo also corroborated rumors that the periscope lens will become available on the smaller iPhone 16 Pro model next year.

As for the iPhone 15 lineup in its entirety, earlier reports indicated potential delays in mass production for the iPhone 15 Pro Max due to supply constraints. Nevertheless, Apple appears to have addressed these issues and is set to commence mass shipments of all the new iPhone models this week. The company is anticipated to ship approximately 80 million iPhone 15 units by year-end and a staggering 250 million units throughout 2024.

The rumored design changes for the entire iPhone 15 lineup include slightly rounded edges, a transition to USB-C ports, and the incorporation of Dynamic Island technology across all models. The 15 Pro models are set to receive upgraded displays with thinner bezels, the swifter A17 chip, and the exclusive periscope lens on the Pro Max model.

With the date of Apple’s special September event still pending, enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting further details.