According to the latest reports, Taiwanese company Primax Electronics will be responsible for making some of the dual-lens camera systems that will be used in Apple’s upcoming iPhone 7 Plus smartphone.
Excitement is building around the iPhone 7 Plus as we approach the predicted launch date of early September. One of the most persistent rumors surrounding the flagship smartphone is the possible introduction of a dual-lens camera system.
Primax Electronics touted as Apple camera module supplier
Other smartphone makers such as LG have already introduced dual-lens camera modules to high-end models, and Apple may be the next company to do so. It is thought that the iPhone 7 Plus will see Apple’s first dual-lens smartphone camera, and a new report claims that at least some of the modules will be manufactured by Primax.
The Taiwanese firm recently boosted its camera module capacity by 10%, according to Economic Daily News. As a result the company could now make around 12 million camera modules per month.
It is thought that around 70% of Primax’ output is taken up with 13-megapixel modules. While this could provide a clue as to the resolution of the modules we may see on the iPhone 7 Plus, it is important to remember that Primax has other clients that also buy its camera modules.
iPhone 7 Plus to sport dual-lens camera
Primax is expected to break its record revenue for August as a result of the deal. The company’s total revenue grew 12.3% month and 19.5% on year in July. It is expected to keep rising for August.
The company also believes it will be asked to manufacture more dual-camera modules after the release of the iPhone 7 Plus.
While a number of leaks and rumors have proposed the idea of a dual-lens camera on the iPhone 7 Plus, it is not clear what the second lens would do exactly. The most obvious application would be as an optical zoom, although it could also boost image fidelity or shoot stereoscopic 3D.
Conflicting reports emerged from Korean this June, claiming that LG Innotek would be the only supplier of dual-lens camera modules to Apple. The company was apparently due to make up for problems at Sony. However it now looks more likely that Apple will use multiple suppliers rather than relying on one company to supply its huge demands.
It now looks likely that only the larger iPhone 7 Plus will include a dual-lens camera, with the standard iPhone 7 featuring a standard single-lens module. This could be an attempt to drive sales of the larger smartphone by differentiating it.
Subdued atmosphere before release of latest Apple smartphone
In fact the new dual-lens camera is rumored to be the most impressive new feature of the iPhone 7 Plus. Analysts are generally quite subdued on the upcoming Apple smartphone, with attention already turning to what the company will do with the 2017 iPhone.
Other rumored changes to the upcoming iPhone 7 models include the removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack. Getting rid of the connector will allow for thinner handsets, but the rumors have been met with opposition from consumers and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.
Wozniak claims that the existing Bluetooth technology is not capable of providing good enough sound quality to wireless earbuds, and that Apple needs to improve the technology. He has also claimed that the company should consider using USB Type-C connectors, which are already being seen on devices from Samsung and Google.
We should find out soon exactly what the iPhone 7 will look like, but what is certain is that some companies like Primax are doing pretty well out of the demand for camera modules.
