Kuo: iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus to Feature 48-Megapixel Camera That Can Capture More Light

The lower-end iPhone 15 and ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus models launching later this year will feature a 48-megapixel rear camera lens with a new stacked sensor design that can capture more light, according to Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

iPhone 15 Cyan and Magenta Frosted Back Feature
Writing on his Medium blog, Kuo said Apple has been able to overcome yield issues of the new stacked CMOS image sensor (CIS) design thanks to supplier Sony increasing its production capacity by 100-120% to meet Apple's demand, resulting in a significant reduction in supply for its Android partners.

Apple first introduced a 48-megapixel camera lens on the iPhone 14 Pro and ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro Max last year. The lens enables users to shoot 48-megapixel ProRAW photos, which retain more detail in the image file for more editing flexibility. By contrast, last year's ‌iPhone 14‌ and ‌iPhone 14‌ Plus used a 12-megapixel camera lens.

Kuo's report corroborates a claim by Jeff Pu, an analyst at Hong Kong-based investment firm Haitong International Securities, who in May said the 48-megapixel lens on the ‌iPhone 15‌ and ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus will use a new three-stacked sensor that can capture more light for improved image quality.

At the time, Pu said the stacked sensor was likely facing yield issues that could result in ‌iPhone 15‌ and ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus production delays. However, Kuo's latest report suggests Apple has resolved the situation, albeit to the detriment of its rivals.

Related Roundup: iPhone 15
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Generic iOS 18

Apple Announces iOS 18.2 Launching Today With These New Features

Wednesday December 11, 2024 5:23 am PST by
Apple has announced that iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 will be released today following more than six weeks of beta testing. For the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models, the update introduces additional Apple Intelligence features, including Genmoji for creating custom emoji, Image Playground and Image Wand for generating images, and ChatGPT integration for Siri. There is also ...
iphone 17 pro concept render cameras

Major iPhone 17 Pro Redesign Backed by Supply Chain Info, Claims Leaker

Thursday December 12, 2024 4:36 am PST by
Next year's iPhone 17 Pro models will reportedly feature a major redesign, specifically centering around changes to the rear camera module, and now new supply chain information appears to confirm the striking change, according to a Chinese leaker. iPhone 17 Pro concept render Late last month, The Information's Wayne Ma claimed that the rear of the ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro and ‌iPhone 17‌ Pro...
m4 mac mini hands on

Cloud-Based M4 and M4 Pro Mac Mini Models Now Available

Wednesday December 11, 2024 7:34 am PST by
Developers now have access to cloud-based M4 and M4 Pro Mac mini units via MacWeb, a Silicon Valley-based provider of cloud services. The company has launched three configurations of the new Mac mini, powered by Apple's M4 and M4 Pro chips. Developers and IT teams can rent these machines for tasks ranging from basic development to advanced artificial intelligence modeling, providing an...
macOS Sequoia Night Feature

Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.2 With New Apple Intelligence Features

Wednesday December 11, 2024 10:02 am PST by
Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.2, the second update to the macOS Sequoia operating system that was released in September. macOS Sequoia 15.2 comes over a month after the release of macOS Sequoia 15.1. Mac users can download the ‌macOS Sequoia‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings. macOS Sequoia 15.2 adds Image Playground, an app that lets you create...
macbook air m2 13 inch

macOS Sequoia 15.2 Confirms New M4 MacBook Air Models Are Coming

Wednesday December 11, 2024 10:54 am PST by
Apple today made a mistake with its macOS Sequoia 15.2 update, releasing the software for two Macs that have yet to be launched. There is a software file for "Mac16,12" and "Mac16,13," which are upcoming MacBook Air models. The leaked software references the "MacBook Air (13-inch, M4, 2025)" and the "MacBook Air (15-inch, M4, 2025)," confirming that new M4 MacBook Air models are in...
maxresdefault

Apple Releases iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 With Genmoji, Image Playground, Siri ChatGPT and More

Wednesday December 11, 2024 10:03 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2, the second major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 updates that came out in September. The new updates come over a month after Apple released iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General >...
Generic iOS 18

Apple Seeds Second Release Candidate Versions of iOS 18.2 and More With Genmoji, Image Playground and ChatGPT Integration

Monday December 9, 2024 10:06 am PST by
Apple today seeded the second release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS 15.2 updates to developers and public beta testers for testing purposes, a week after releasing the first RCs. The first iOS 18.2 RC had a build number of 22C150, while the second RC's build number is 22C151. Release candidates represent the final version of beta software that's expected to see a ...

Top Rated Comments

dantracht Avatar
18 months ago
New iPhone to feature camera that is better than the previous model. I hate to always sound so cynical and I’m getting old but…..we know this!
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Carmenia83 Avatar
18 months ago

Lol. Mind blown. Sorry but when the mighty 3GS dropped it was a game changer for like $300. Now, 20 years later the screen is bigger and plans are more expensive.. but the entry price just doesn’t match the features to me.
The 3GS wasn't $300, that was the two year contract subsidized price. It was $600 without it. Adjusted for inflation, that's around $850 today.

The plans weren't cheaper either. AT&T was charging $40/mo for the base voice plan, and then $30/mo for unlimited data, and another $5/mo for 200 text messages or $20/mo for unlimited texts. So you were realistically paying $90/mo plus tax for unlimited data and messaging. Even including the phone subsidy in those figures, it was much more expensive to have an iPhone in 2009 than it is today.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coffeemilktea Avatar
18 months ago
48 megapixels? The pictures I take of my cat are going to look SO smooth now. :cool:
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iLoveDeveloping Avatar
18 months ago
If 48mp goes to normal 15’s they will sell like crazy! People think they want the 48mp, as I did. After 6 months with my 14 Pro I barely ever use it and that has nothing to do with space. In most photos you will barely see a difference, I am completely underwhelmed by it. Apple really pushed it this year like it’s a breakthrough but I just don’t see a massive difference. When printing it out (which most people don’t these days) or zooming in and crops maybe, a little. But otherwise absolutely not.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
klasma Avatar
18 months ago

New iPhone to feature camera that is better than the previous model. I hate to always sound so cynical and I’m getting old but…..we know this!
The new information is about how it will be better.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dantracht Avatar
18 months ago

Lol. Mind blown. Sorry but when the mighty 3GS dropped it was a game changer for like $300. Now, 20 years later the screen is bigger and plans are more expensive.. but the entry price just doesn’t match the features to me.

Give me an iOS fold the way only apple knows how and I’ll get onboard.

I get the operating model though. Consistent slow updates, maintain value and brand and keep it churning.

I just wish it had the magic where we would reinvent every few generations.

Don’t get me wrong still my favourite phone I can buy but surely a trillion dollar company can capture the imagination better than I can.
Those days are long gone my friend. iPhone is a mature model now, incremental updates are all we are going to get.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)