What you need to know
- Apple may be planning a massive camera upgrade for the iPhone next year.
- Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple may adopt a 48MP camera that can record 8K video.
- Apple is also reportedly planning to end the iPhone 'mini' in favor of two 6.1-inch and two 6.7-inch models.
A new report from supply chain analyst says that Apple plans to make a huge upgrade to the iPhone camera in 2022 and that the iPhone 13 could be the last lineup to feature a 'mini' iPhone.
In a note seen by iMore, Kuo first states that the iPhone 13 mini will likely be the last "mini" iPhone:
We predict that the new 2H22 iPhone will have 4 models, namely the high-end 6.7-inch and 6.1-inch models, and the lower-end 6.7-inch and 6.1-inch models.
Reports of ailing iPhone 12 mini sales have persisted for some time, and the best iPhone available is the regular sized 12, with all of Apple's larger sized iPhones proving much popular with customers. So, according to Kuo, there'll be two sizes of iPhone, 6.1-inch, and 6.7-inch. But that's not all, because Kuo says an enormous camera upgrade is on the way.
The note says that some iPhones in 2022 will get a 48MP camera capable of shooting in 8K. Currently, the iPhone 12 offers users 12MP and 4K video recording, so this would be a massive leap in camera performance. Kuo says this upgrade will come to the two "high-end" models of the iPhone, suggesting this could be a 'Pro' only feature.
Kuo also says that in 2023 Apple may adopt a periscope telephoto lens as well as under-screen Face ID, possibly signaling an end to the notch on the front of the iPhone.
Apple's iPhone 13, expected later this year will likely follow the same model lineup as the iPhone 12, and is expected to be more of a 12S tweak. If Kuo's prediction about next year is correct, it sounds like iPhone 14 (or whatever Apple decides to call it) could be a bumper change.
