iPhone 15 Pro Max production hindered by tetraprism camera lens

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in iPhone edited September 2023

The iPhone 15 Pro Max could face delays due to the production of the tetraprism lens system, with changes in specification introducing more stress to the camera's supply chain, says Ming-Chi Kuo.

iPhone 15 Pro Max camera
iPhone 15 Pro Max camera



On Sunday, a note from TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo advised that while the iPhone 15 Pro Max is in high demand from consumers, it faced "production challenges" that could potentially cause delays in shipments.

In a new Medium post on Monday, Kuo expanded on the comments, explaining that it was all due to the new tetraprism compact camera module used only by that iPhone module.

The tetraprism lens is an integral part of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, with it increasing the Telephoto camera's optical zoom from 3x to 5x, while also bolstering the maximum zoom up to 25x. It is the only model to use the tetraprism system, with the iPhone 15 Pro using a more typical Telephoto camera arrangement.

To counter production yield issues of the CCM from exclusive supplier LGIT, Apple has increased the specifications of the lens itself, which are provided exclusively to Largan. Due to the sudden increase in lens requirements, as well as the urgency caused by high demand, Largan has expanded its production lines for the tetraprism lens itself.

As a byproduct of the new challenges and the need for more resources, the unit price of the lens has gone up to 20%. Apple is apparently willing to accept the cost, in part due to the relatively lower cost of the defective lenses, and in part due to Largan's reputation and "world-class production capabilities."

If Largan cannot meet demand under the new specifications, this could lead to delays in shipments of the iPhone 15 Pro Max to retailers and consumers.

Kuo adds that both the iPhone 16 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro are anticipated to have the tetraprism telephoto cameras. However, if Apple maintains its higher specification requirements for the lens, it will "raise the entry barrier for Genius," the second-largest lens supplier to Apple.

It's proposed that Largan will be more likely to remain an exclusive or primary supplier for the tetraprism lens for another year.

Read on AppleInsider

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 7
    SkepticalSkeptical Posts: 183member
    Weather conditions, war, a strike. Anything can affect anything. Who are these so called analysts. Is guessing all it takes to get noticed. Another non-story. 
    AfarstarFileMakerFellerwatto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 7
    srfisher101srfisher101 Posts: 1member
    “… relatively lower cost of the defective lenses,…”
    My iPhone 15 Pro Max arrives Friday. That lens is defective? Will Apple replace mine?
    williamlondonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 7
    marjorietuck@msn.com[email protected] Posts: 23member
    Skeptical said:
    Weather conditions, war, a strike. Anything can affect anything. Who are these so called analysts. Is guessing all it takes to get noticed. Another non-story. 
    Yes, nobody knows what “specifications” or design/production challenges means nor how to produce more less costly, defective lenses faster, but the underwriting fact remains that the majority of us here are likely not Largan, nor could they tell us if they were listening.
    williamlondonbaconstangwatto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 7
    charlesncharlesn Posts: 842member
    srfisher101 said:
    “… relatively lower cost of the defective lenses,…”
    My iPhone 15 Pro Max arrives Friday. That lens is defective? Will Apple replace mine?
    And so, Apple LensGate begins... has the first class action lawsuit been filed yet? 
    Alex1NFileMakerFellerbeowulfschmidtwatto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 7
    charlesncharlesn Posts: 842member
    Skeptical said:
    Weather conditions, war, a strike. Anything can affect anything. Who are these so called analysts. Is guessing all it takes to get noticed. Another non-story. 
    Ming-Chi Kuo is the most respected financial analyst covering Apple. He devotes his work life to deciphering, via contacts he has built up over many years. what is going on the world of Apple for the benefit of current or potential investors. Is he right 100% of the time? Of course not. Apple is a hugely secretive company and Tim Cook isn't calling him to report on the latest. Kuo is using the best information he can gather from the sources he has developed--sometimes the conclusion of that info is very straight forward and sometimes Kuo interprets what it could mean. His percentage of hits vs misses are higher than any other analyst covering Apple. 
    baconstangAlex1NFileMakerFellerbeowulfschmidtwatto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 7
    danoxdanox Posts: 2,875member
    That didn’t take long, can’t wait for the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg to chime in with the Apple is doomed by the end of the week….. three, two, one… :smiley: 
    edited September 2023 beowulfschmidtwatto_cobra
  • Reply 7 of 7
    jcs2305jcs2305 Posts: 1,337member
    charlesn said:
    Skeptical said:
    Weather conditions, war, a strike. Anything can affect anything. Who are these so called analysts. Is guessing all it takes to get noticed. Another non-story. 
    Ming-Chi Kuo is the most respected financial analyst covering Apple. He devotes his work life to deciphering, via contacts he has built up over many years. what is going on the world of Apple for the benefit of current or potential investors. Is he right 100% of the time? Of course not. Apple is a hugely secretive company and Tim Cook isn't calling him to report on the latest. Kuo is using the best information he can gather from the sources he has developed--sometimes the conclusion of that info is very straight forward and sometimes Kuo interprets what it could mean. His percentage of hits vs misses are higher than any other analyst covering Apple. 

    According to Apple Track his accuracy is 72% which makes him the 8th most accurate leaker or "source" of apple news.




    watto_cobra
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