Update: June 29 – Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today in an investors’ note said that the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max models will feature an upgraded ultra-wide camera with autofocus for crisper and sharper images. He added that next year’s iPhone 14 series could feature autofocus ultra-wide cameras in all the models.
Earlier: In a new report by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, information about the iPhone 13’s possible new ultra-wide lens have been revealed. Apple may end up using an upgraded 7P Wide angle lens for the ultra-wide sensor, which should in theory provide better low-light performance.
The report states that Sunny Optical, who is a Chinese supplier of lens parts, has successfully complete verification of their iPad 5P lens. Mass shipments of the 5P lenses will likely start in mid-2021, although it is unclear which iPad model will be receiving it. Due to this, there is a high probability of them shipping 7P wide angle lens for the iPhone 13 series later in 2021.
With the 7P lens element, the iPhone 13 will be able to have ultra-wide lenses with an aperture of ƒ/1.8, which is wider than the current f/2.4, 5P lenses found in the current iPhone 12 models. This wider aperture will result in significantly higher low-light performance.
There are conflicting rumours about which iPhone 13 models will receive the updated elements, however. Barclays’ analysts Blayne Curtis and Thomas O’Malley predict all 4 models in the iPhone 13 series will receive it, while Ming-Chi Kuo expects only the two top models will get it.