Apple has booked up the production capacity for above 12-megapixel lens modules at a new factory being built by smartphone lens module maker Largan Precision in central Taiwan, according to DigiTimes.
Among makers of above 12-megapixel smartphone lens modules, only Largan meets Apple’s minimum yield rate requirement, the article adds. The new factory in Taichung is purportedly designed to accommodate monthly production capacity of 600 million lens modules, six times Largan’s present capacity, and will start production next month, claims DigiTimes.
Chances the rumors are true, according to the Sellers Research Group (that’s me): 90%, although I’m not sure who really needs a 16-megapixel or 18-megapixel camera (4K Ultra HD displays have a resolution of 3,840×2,160 pixels — or about8.3 megapixels). Perhaps Apple wants to convince professional photographers to ditch their current camera and go with an iPhone. The proper use of “oversampling” and a graphics-dedicated CPU built into the A11 (A12?) chip might allow higher-resolution digital printouts and zoom-ins than you’d normally see.
Of course, with an October start date, we’re talking about lens for 2018 iPhones, not this year’s models. The iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, are all equipped with 12-megapixel rear-facing cameras and 7-megapixel front-facing cameras.
