If the granules of news falling out of the rumour mill end up true, the iPhone 15 could be a huge shakeup for Apple’s phone line. The next iteration of the Cupertino company’s flagship phone will reportedly grant a 48-MP lens — currently only a feature of Pro iPhones — to the everyman.
This latest rumour comes thanks to a supply chain report from the Chinese site ITHome. The news stems from an analysis of the camera supply chain — in particular, Sony’s production capacity shortages for its camera units, thanks to the regular iPhone camera being upgraded to the 48-megapixel size. According to ITHome, Sony has had trouble filling Apple’s orders for more higher-quality camera modules than previous generations of iPhones, so it’s reached out to Taiwan Semiconductor for help. Why is Apple order more of these camera modules? Because it’s equipping not only the premium iPhones with the 48-MP camera, but also the basic ones, perhaps. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This isn’t the first time this rumour has floated to the surface. Last month, MacRumors first reported on a research note from analyst Jeff Pu that claimed a 48-megapixel lens on the regular iPhone 15 would use a three-stacked sensor that could support even better image quality. However, that more-complicated sensor has also led to some production delays for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. The device still maintains an expected shipping date of September this year.
So what about the 15 Pro line? The 48-MP primary sensor on the phone’s tri-camera array was one of the main selling points for Apple’s more expensive model, though as we noted in our review of the 14 Pro, the sensor usually only shoots at 12MP with quad-pixel tech enabled. Enabling the full might of the Pro’s rear sensor creates some very large images mostly useful for professional photographers. The night sight capabilities on the Pro Max’s largest sensor are also comparable to its Google counterparts.
Based on everything we know about the upcoming iPhone 15, the Pro versions of the phone could still have three cameras, but it could also come with a periscope-style rear sensor, while the other sensors maintain the expected ultra wide and telephoto lenses. Depending on the capabilities of a three-stack 48-MP lens on a regular iPhone, the Pro versions would need to have some more bells and whistles to truly justify the price jump.
Currently, rumours from respected sources have it the iPhone 15 could sell in four models, including a new “Pro Ultra” variant at the highest end. At release, the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 could have a 6.7-inch twin called the iPhone 15 Plus. Otherwise, sure we’re finally getting access to USB-C on iPhone (though there are rumours Apple will try to limit the capacity on non-Apple cable products).
The company sitting at the corner of 1 Infinity Loop has reportedly been trying to shake up things for its upcoming phone. One of those attempts was to create new “taptic”-style buttons on the phones exterior that wouldn’t so much click down but offer users some rumble feedback. However, an Apple supplier’s quarterly report implied that feature was no longer on the table.
Want more of Gizmodo’s consumer electronics picks? Check out our guides to the best phones, best laptops, best cameras, best televisions, best printers, and best tablets. If you want to learn about the next big thing, see our guide to everything we know about the iPhone 15. Click here to save on the best deals of the day, courtesy of our friends at The Inventory.