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Rumor: iPhone 7 may feature dual lens camera technology
If a new rumor is to be believed, Apple has been working on dual lens camera technology for its iPhones for at least three years already and is likely to include such a camera upgrade in 2016’s iPhone 7.
Dual lens cameras in smartphones are not revolutionary, both HTC and Huawei sells models that include dual lens cameras, but so far Apple has kept to a single lens 8-megapixel camera for the iPhone range.
On Thursday, Taiwan’s Business Weekly (via BGR) reported that, according to Altek Co. CEO, Xiaru Wen, Apple “has been studying the dual lens” technology for three or more years already. Altek supplies both HTC and Huawei with dual lens camera modules.
The report goes on to claim that Apple has faced two major hurdles in developing a dual lens camera system for the iPhone: technical issues related to image quality, and difficulty finding a supplier to deliver enough dual lens camera modules.
Apple has reportedly solved the image quality issue using technology it acquired when it bought Israeli company, LinX Imaging, in April for $20 million. The deal gave Apple access to miniature multi-aperture cameras and image procession algorithms developed by LinX – it is likely this combination that has allowed Apple to achieve the desired image quality for a dual lens camera module.
It appears Apple’s supply chain issues may also be a thing of the past, making it even more likely that next year’s iPhone 7 will have a dual lens camera onboard.
Taiwan’s Largan Precision, which supplies Apple with lenses for iPhones and iPads, is in the process of doubling its production capacity, according to company CEO Linen Ping. Largan is also rumored to have secured a deal with Apple to supply at least 80 percent of camera lenses for the upcoming iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.
With Apple’s supply chain taking time to ramp up production, an iPhone with a dual lens camera is not likely to arrive until next year’s model, but this year’s iPhone 6s range will be no slouch in the photo department. Rumors suggest the iPhone 6s will feature a 12-megapixel rear camera, capable of taking SLR-quality images.
Image credit: Robin Andeer | Flickr | CC BY 2.0
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