Every year, Apple holds an event in September and releases new iPhones shortly thereafter. It’s expected to be the same for 2023, and rumors are swirling around the upcoming iPhone 15 series.
Rumors suggest a few key changes to this year’s lineup. For example, Pro models may get a titanium frame and frosted glass backs.
Enhanced Digital Zoom
Apple’s phones currently max out at 3x optical zoom, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max is expected to come with a periscope lens that enables up to 5-6x zoom. This technology would be built into the telephoto camera, allowing for higher magnification without blurriness or degradation of image quality like digital zoom does.
A periscope-style camera uses a series of angled mirrors to refract light and increase zoom capabilities. Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra and other smartphones use a similar design, and Apple has reportedly been working on this type of camera for a while now.
In addition to the enhanced optical zoom feature, the iPhone 15 Pro is rumored to have a new dual-prism image sensor from Sony that’s designed to capture more light and reduce overexposure and underexposure. This could help the upcoming iPhones improve low-light photography and portraits.
Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 models are also rumored to support USB-C accessories, a key feature for future generations of the company’s mobile hardware. The upcoming models may also include a customizable “Action” button that can replace the Ring/Silent switch and offer quick access to system functions like Do Not Disturb, Flashlight, and Low Power Mode.
Camera iphone 15 2023 Stabilization
While it’s not a new feature, Apple’s improved camera stabilization could improve the quality of selfies and videos on the iPhone 15 series. The company will use a combination of optical image stabilization and software to reduce shake and blur, especially when recording video or using the zoom features.
Other improvements are also expected. Rumors have said that the top iPhone 15 Pro model will get a periscope zoom with double the magnification of current iPhones. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, rival analyst Jeff Pu, and leaker URedditor have all predicted this improvement.
The iPhone 15 series will get a Sony image sensor with “state of the art” photodiodes, delivering better performance in low light and cutting down on overexposure. The sensor is based on an advanced process that puts photodiodes and transistors in separate layers, allowing for more of them.
A dark red color option is set to be added to the lineup, according to 9to5Mac. This is expected to be available for both the regular and Pro models. In addition, the rumors point to a new feature called Dynamic Island. This is a shape-shifting cutout that appears in the display when you open an app. Display analyst Ross Young, however, is not expecting the iPhone 15 to get a 120Hz LCD LTPO display like the Pro models.
Camera Dual LED Flash
The iPhone’s camera is already a pretty good low-light performer, but adding dual LED flash will make even better pictures. The additional burst of light will help reduce blurriness, and give brighter and more expansive lighting for the subject, which is especially helpful in dim conditions.
Dual-tone LED flash technology is a feature that solves the unnatural color tones often seen on smartphone flash photos. A single LED flash can only emit one type of light (white or yellow) but by using two LED lights that have different color temperatures the iPhone can match the white balance of the ambient light to create more natural-looking photos.
The LEDs are located below the lens stack in a three-by-three grid and can be fired in a variety of patterns to vary the intensity of the flash. Firing the center top and bottom LEDs produces a narrow beam of flash perfect for telephoto zoom, while firing all eight outward-facing LEDs and leaving the central ones off produces a wider shot with less light spill. Apple is also likely to be able to adjust the flash power based on whether the iPhone is zoomed in or out for greater control. Essentially, it’s a technique that experienced photographers use with speedlites but made possible by the way the iPhone is built.
