Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac
The upcoming iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will seemingly use the same 5x tetraprism camera as the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This move will benefit the company’s current prisms supplier, Crystal-Optech.
Apple plans to use a larger tetraprism sensor with 48MP resolution on the iPhone 17 Pro lineup in 2025.
iPhone 16 Pro could ditch the 3x telephoto camera
Apple switched to a 5x telephoto sensor on the iPhone 15 Pro Max last year. Unlike the primary 48MP shooter, the 5x camera uses a 12MP Sony sensor measuring 1/3.1″. The smaller iPhone 15 Pro stuck to a 3x telephoto camera.
Rumors suggest that Apple will upgrade the iPhone 16 Pro to a 5x telephoto sensor this year. However, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims the tetra prism camera itself may not receive any notable hardware upgrades. Image quality improvements, if any, should come from better processing and a faster ISP.
Unlike the Pro Max, the smaller Pro model has limited internal space, which is probably creating a problem for Apple.
iPhone 17 Pro Max might pack a bigger 48MP 5x camera
For the 2025 iPhone 17 Pro Max, though, Apple will apparently switch to a larger 1/2.6″ sensor with a higher 48MP resolution. This upgrade will require new prism designs to accommodate the bigger sensor without significantly increasing the iPhone’s camera bump z-height.
But it’s unclear if Apple will use the 48MP tetraprism exclusively on the iPhone 17 Pro Max or also on the smaller Pro model.
A larger sensor will allow for more light intake and higher light sensitivity, enabling better optical zoom performance and more detailed images. If not next year, the 2026 iPhone 18 Pro should switch to the upgraded 5x telephoto camera.
Looking even further forward, the analyst says Apple will again give the tetraprism sensor a big upgrade with the 2027 iPhones. This could include increasing its optical zoom range for better performance.
