Rumor: Apple to incorporate dual lens system in next-gen iPhone camera

The next-gen iPhone could feature a dual lens camera system.

This is according to a research note published by noted KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo that predicts that two 5.5-inch versions of the “iPhone 7 Plus” are in development, one with a single iSight rear-facing camera and another boasting a dual-camera design.

The rumored iPhone 7 Plus model with a dual-lens camera system would take advantage of imaging algorithms that Apple acquired through its purchase of Israeli camera technology company LinX Imaging last year.

The purchase of LinX offered several improvements the iPhone 7 Plus could benefit from, including multiple sensors for a smaller size, possibly eliminating the need for a protruding camera lens. The lenses would also have better sensitivity to light and greatly improved image quality in low light.

Specifically, Kuo cites the LinX Imaging algorithm for its unique ability to achieve high-end dual-camera applications such as optical zoom simulation while sidestepping the traditional bottlenecks associated with compact camera module (CCM) assembly.

In Kuo’s note, he stated that the camera could see a 2-3x optical zoom function in the iPhone 7 Plus model. However, owing to supply chain constraints on dual-camera modules, the KGI analyst expects the larger handset to come in single-camera and dual-camera versions.

Apple has become renowned for its ability to make significant leaps forward in upgrading its iOS devices’ cameras each year, so there might be something to this.

Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

Via MacRumors and Computer Bild