The Apple iPhone 15 is expected to feature a significant camera upgrade, inheriting the 48-megapixel camera from the iPhone 14 Pro. This move is aimed at bringing the iPhone’s camera capabilities up to par with its competitors, such as Google and Samsung, which have been using higher megapixel counts in their flagship smartphones.
Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has reported that the wide camera image sensor (CIS) of the two standard iPhone 15 models will be upgraded to 48MP, and Apple will adopt a new stacked CIS design. To meet Apple’s demand for the higher-resolution sensors, Sony, the supplier of these sensors, has increased its CIS production capacity for Apple by 100-120%, which has resulted in reduced supply for Android smartphones.
While Apple historically stuck with 12MP sensors for its best iPhones, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max introduced the 48MP sensor in 2022. With the iPhone 15, even the cheaper models are expected to benefit from this high-resolution camera upgrade, allowing them to compete with other flagship smartphones on the market.
However, Apple is still expected to differentiate the more expensive iPhone 15 models by adding a periscope lens, which would provide advanced optical zoom capabilities and further enhance their photography capabilities.
While megapixels are not the only factor that determines camera quality, having higher megapixel counts is often considered advantageous in marketing and attracting buyers. Many Android smartphones have already adopted cameras with higher megapixel counts, and Apple’s move to upgrade its camera technology is likely aimed at keeping up with the competition and delivering a more compelling offering to consumers.
