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.

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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

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Top Rated Comments

dantracht Avatar
23 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
23 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
23 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
23 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
23 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
23 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)