According to a new report from notable Apple analyst Ming Chi-Kuo, the Cupertino company is gearing up to bring the 48-megapixel camera to the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, but introduce a new stacked lens design that will improve photo quality by capturing more light.
Originally introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max last year, the 48-megapixel camera system brought a slew of new technologies to the iPhone, like a new quad-pixel sensor, ProRAW, and a Photonic Engine that “preserves even more image data to deliver brighter, more lifelike colors and beautifully detailed textures,” according to Apple.
In a post to Kuo’s Medium blog, he outlines the current production state of the new sensors: “The wide camera CIS of the two iPhone 15 standard models will be upgraded to 48MP and adopt a new stacked CIS design. Due to the low yield rate, Sony has increased the CIS production capacity for Apple by 100–120% to meet Apple’s demand, resulting in a significant reduction in high-end CIS supply for Android.”
Apple currently utilizes a 12-megapixel system on the current iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, with the 48-megapixel system reserved for the Pro line of phones. A triple-stacked sensor will allow the next-generation iPhone 15 and 15 Plus to capture sharper and brighter images, in hopes that low-light photography will benefit the most from this type of sensor.
With reports of production issues with the new triple-stacked sensor, this may spell trouble for Apple this fall. If the rumors are true, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus may be delayed, but Kuo remains hopeful by saying that Sony has increased production of the new sensor. Kuo also adds that Apple has mostly resolved the production issues, so we hope things are back on track for a fall release.
