

Quick Summary
The Apple iPhone 16 Pro is reported to be coming with a periscope lens this year, offering 5x optical zoom.
The report comes from DigitTimes (picked up by 91Mobiles) and talks about the main suppliers for the camera modules.
It used to be that the summer months were the quietest when it came to tech product launches, but that's no longer the case. Both Samsung and Google have confirmed events over the next couple of months, prior to consumer electronics show IFA and Apple's September event.
It means that while we await the official announcements – coming from Samsung first at Unpacked on 10 July – we are also gifted to a swell of rumours. The latest of which refers to Apple's iPhone 16 Pro, which is expected to be revealed at the end of summer, likely sometime in the beginning of September.
A report from DigiTimes (via 91Mobiles) has suggested the Apple iPhone 16 Pro will come with a periscope lens offering 5x optical zoom. You may have heard those specifications before and no, you aren't going mad. That's what the iPhone 15 Pro Max offered when it was announced in 2023.
The iPhone 15 Pro didn't offer the periscope lens of the 15 Pro Max however, with optical zoom limited to 3x rather than the 5x optical and 25x digital capabilities of the larger model. The report suggests bigger won't necessarily be better for 2024 however, with the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max offering the same camera capabilities.
iPhone 16 Pro screen size boost
In order to accommodate the larger camera module, there have also been reports to suggest the iPhone 16 Pro could see a slightly larger display at 6.3-inches compared to the iPhone 15 Pro's current 6.1-inches.
Other rumours talk about a capture button for taking pictures and videos, which if true, will be interesting to see how Apple implements. A capture button is something Sony phones have offered for years and technically the iPhone 15 Pro models already offer a capture button to some extent, if you program the Action Button for the camera, but that's not to say there isn't something else in the works.
When it comes to processor, the Apple iPhone 16 Pro is said to be running on the A18 Bionic, which will of course support iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence features. Nothing is confirmed as yet of course, and with a couple of months before the iPhone 16 series is expected to be announced, all these rumours can change.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
Britta is a freelance technology journalist who has been writing about tech for over a decade. She's covered all consumer tech from phones, tablets and wearables to smart home and beauty tech, with everything in between. She has a fashion journalism degree from London College of Fashion and previously did a long stint as deputy editor of Pocket-lint, but you’ll now find her byline on several titles including GQ, the Express, the Mirror, TechRadar, Stuff and iMore. You'll never find her without her Apple Watch on, aiming to complete her rings so she can justify the extra bar of chocolate and she loves a good iPhone trick.
-
I tested the new iPad Air, and it's like a tablet and MacBook rolled into one
Now with an M3 chip and a new Magic Keyboard option, the iPad Air M3 promises to not only be the best portable tablet but a real mini laptop replacement, too
By Mat Gallagher Published
-
Netflix's new show Ransom Canyon is coming for Yellowstone's lunch money
It's precision-targeted
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
New evidence suggests Apple's taking its foldable iPhone seriously
And it might bring something different to the party too
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
EU paves the way for iPhones and Android devices to ditch USB-C entirely
Clarification enables Apple, Samsung and others to switch to wireless charging only
By Rik Henderson Published
-
Apple's first foldable could come with an unexpected feature, claims expert
If it ends up being true, we'd be absolutely fine with it.
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
Google's Pixel 9a does one simple thing that could tempt me away from iPhones after a decade
Google's played a blinder here
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Apple could have two Studio Displays in the pipeline, but there's mystery behind the second
The great Apple monitor mystery – is Apple making two Studio Displays or something even bigger?
By Carrie Marshall Published
-
Google Maps design update finally comes to iPhone after Android owners have enjoyed it for months
It should make one-handed use much easier
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
MacBook Air M4 ups the power, battery life and is surprisingly cheaper
Apple announces a new MacBook Air with a big upgrade to M4 processing
By Rik Henderson Published
-
There's an ingenious and cheap way to make sure you never lose your camera
If you're worried about losing your expensive camera, this little device could help
By Chris Hall Published