iPhone 15 Series Will Switch to Glass-Plastic Hybrid Lens and Improved Aperture, Tipster Claims

iPhone 14 series' primary camera lens comprises seven plastic elements.

Written by David Delima, Edited by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 26 July 2023 12:14 IST

iPhone 15 Series Will Switch to Glass-Plastic Hybrid Lens and Improved Aperture, Tipster Claims

Photo Credit: Apple

iPhone 14 series of smartphones is equipped with lenses made of seven plastic elements

Highlights

iPhone 15 is tipped to feature better camera lenses than its predecessor
Apple could equip its next smartphones with glass-plastic lenses
The iPhone 16 Pro series could feature hybrid lenses on all three cameras

iPhone 15 series camera specifications have been leaked online, ahead of the expected debut of Apple's next-generation smartphone models later this year. The Cupertino company is tipped to replace the moulded plastic lens setup on its primary camera with a glass-plastic hybrid lens. Apple is expected to be one of the first smartphone makers to introduce a device with a hybrid lens design on smartphones that will be available globally — firms like Xiaomi offer the technology on their smartphones sold in China.

Unlike the iPhone 14 series of smartphones that feature seven plastic lenses, the iPhone 15 lineup will feature a primary camera that has a hybrid lens made up of one glass element and six plastic elements, according to Twitter user RGcloudS (@RGcloudS). The tipster is known for leaking details of Android smartphones in the past, and claims that Apple will be the first company to equip its phones with a glass-plastic hybrid lens in global markets this year.

1/5
The upcoming iP15 series will be the first global phone with hybrid lens. beside chinese brands
1G6P • F1.7 aperture, means the same IMX sensor but captures 15-20% more light and better colors

leaving samsung as the most outdated camera lens
no branded, all plastics
— RGcloudS (@RGcloudS) July 18, 2023

Previous leaks claim that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will be equipped with the same 48-megapixel Sony IMX primary camera sensor that was available on the iPhone 14 Pro series last year. According to RGcloudS, the primary camera on the iPhone 15 series will have an f/1.7 aperture, up from f/1.79 on last year's premium smartphones from Apple, allowing the company's next phones to capture up to 20 percent more light and better colours, potentially offering improved low-light performance.

While Apple is yet to announce plans to launch the iPhone 15 lineup, RGcloudS goes on to claim that next year's top-of-the-line model — the purported iPhone 16 Pro Max or iPhone 16 Ultra — will be equipped with a hybrid lens design comprising two glass elements and six plastic elements, on the primary camera. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is also tipped to feature a periscope camera setup for improved zoom performance.

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3/5
This is what i know for next iP16U / PM. triple hybrid lens
2G6P { by AAC } Main
same aperture & 0.5± thicker bump

2G5P { by Sunny } UW
upto F/2
still under review & patent applicationhttps://t.co/AUKjl2hF1n
1G5P { by Sunny } Periscope
upto F/3
— RGcloudS (@RGcloudS) July 18, 2023

Meanwhile, the ultra-wide-angle and telephoto cameras on the iPhone 15 lineup are tipped to feature hybrid lenses with seven elements and six elements, respectively. Previous reports suggest that the iPhone 15 Pro Max could be equipped with a larger 48-megapixel Sony sensor than its predecessor, the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Earlier this month, RGcloudS had stated that Apple would equip the iPhone 15 lineup with stacked battery technology that would allow the smartphone to support 40W wired charging and 20W wireless (MagSafe) charging. The user has now clarified — via the same Twitter thread — that they believe the new battery technology will debut with the iPhone 16 series next year, with support for charging at a faster rate than existing iPhone models.

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iPhone 15

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Big upgrades over the 14
Excellent ergonomics, build quality
Very good all-round performance
Apple ecosystem benefits

Bad
Relatively slow charging
Expensive
Still a 60Hz display

Read detailed Apple iPhone 15 review

Display 6.10-inch

Processor Apple A16 Bionic

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 6GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

OS iOS 17

Resolution 1179x2556 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

Apple iPhone 15 Plus

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.70-inch

Processor Apple A16 Bionic

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

OS iOS 17

Resolution 1290x2796 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

Apple iPhone 15 Pro

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.10-inch

Processor Apple A17 Pro

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

OS iOS 17

Resolution 1179x2556 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Excellent display
USB Type-C
AAA gaming
Excellent all-round performance
Good primary and telephoto camera
Customisable Action Button

Bad
Gets hot quickly when stressed
Slow wired charging
Expensive

Read detailed Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max review

Display 6.70-inch

Processor Apple A17 Pro

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

OS iOS 17

Resolution 1290x2796 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

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Further reading: iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15 camera, iPhone 15 specifications, iPhone 15 series, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple

David Delima

Email David Delima

As a writer on technology with Gadgets 360, David Delima is interested in open-source technology, cybersecurity, consumer privacy, and loves to read and write about how the Internet works. David can be contacted via email at DavidD@ndtv.com, on Twitter at @DxDavey, and Mastodon at mstdn.social/@delima. More