As per the insights from a well-known Apple tipster, Revengus, it appears that Apple’s next-generation iPhone 15 Ultra will receive a significant camera enhancement: a telephoto camera equipped with a variable zoom lens. Interestingly, this is the same anticipated feature that is rumoured to debut on Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra, setting up a fierce competition between these upcoming flagship smartphones in the realm of photography capabilities.
Currently, the iPhone 14 Pro Max (anticipated to be renamed as ‘Ultra’ for iPhone 15) supports up to 3x optical zoom, while the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts both 3x and 10x telephoto lenses. The forthcoming iPhone 15 Ultra and Galaxy S24 Ultra are speculated to sport single telephoto sensors with a variable system, allowing users to optically switch between different levels of magnification seamlessly. Undoubtedly, this upgrade is quite substantial and promising.
This holds even more significance for the iPhone, considering that the current Pro Max only offers 3x optical zoom compared to the impressive 10x optical zoom provided by the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Notably, variable optical zoom cameras are relatively rare in the world of smartphones. While they do exist, they are far from being commonplace. Therefore, if either the upcoming iPhone Ultra or Galaxy Ultra does indeed incorporate a variable optical zoom camera, it would be a major leap forward in smartphone photography technology.
Of course, it’s important to remember that both the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Ultra are still only the subject of rumors, and any features attributed to them are mere speculations at this point. As such, we’ll have to exercise patience and wait to see if a variable optical zoom camera is indeed integrated into either of these smartphones. Nevertheless, substantial upgrades are always eagerly anticipated, especially for the top-tier smartphones in the market.