Apple to Bring Periscope Zoom to Both iPhone 16 Pro Models, Action Button Across the Whole Lineup
Apple’s next flagship series of iPhones, the Pros (16 Pro and 16 Pro Max) will both feature the periscope zoom telephoto lens. According to supply chain sources, LG Innotek will increase its supply for folded zoom actuators as Apple is looking to expand the use of the technology to more iPhone models.
At the moment, Apple only uses folded zoom (periscope lens) in the Pro Max model of the iPhone 15 series. However, the company plans to add folded zoom to both the Pro and Pro Max models of the iPhone 16 series. This means that LG Innotek, which is the sole supplier of folded zoom actuators to Apple, will need to ramp up production to meet the increased demand.
LG Innotek’s main competitor in the folded zoom actuator market is India’s Jahwa Electronics. However, Jahwa Electronics has been struggling to improve its production yields, which could give LG Innotek an even bigger advantage in the market and potentially better profit margins.
We do know that early production of the iPhone 15 Pro Max faced challenges with securing enough components from Sony, LG Innotek, and Jahwa Electronics as per the production demand. However, these issues have improved over time. Apple has decided to rely more heavily on LG Innotek for actuators due to their perceived stability compared to Jahwa Electronics.
According to TheElec, this year’s volume of actuators for folded zoom will be ~60-70% for LG Innotek and 30-40% for Jahwa Electronics.
On the other hand, Apple’s Action button, which was introduced this year for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will reportedly be making its way to the entire iPhone 16 lineup, with added functionality. It’ll be updated from a mechanical style to a capacitive button with pressure sensitive features.
According to internal documentation, the updated Action button will feature a force sensor, which detects changes in pressure, as well as “tact-switching functionality,” although exactly what the latter entails is currently unclear. The new “Capture” button planned for the iPhone 16 lineup is also set to include the same functionality as the improved Action button.”
MacRumors
Moreover, this force feedback Action button may also feature in the iPhone SE 4, slated to release sometime around 2025, meaning that Apple’s legendary Mute switch will officially be dead, once and for all.
This is all we know for now, but rest assured that we will keep you updated as new information becomes available.
