While the world is buzzing about the launch of the new iPhone 15, new rumors about the iPhone 16 Pro Max suggest that a significant camera upgrade may be missed at the launch at Apple's September event.

According to a new rumor from Weibo's Digital Chat Station, the iPhone 16 Pro Max could feature a "super" telephoto lens. In contrast, the iPhone 14 Pro has a focal length of 77mm, making the rumored upgrade about four times more powerful than the current device.

If true, this upgrade would pave the way for the iPhone 16 Pro to have a better zoom than the 3x currently found on the iPhone 14 Pro. This improvement would be made possible by the purported 6x periscopic zoom that is expected to be added to the iPhone 15 Pro Max this year.

In addition to the improved focal length, a Weibo informant claims that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature a larger 1/1.4-inch camera sensor. Currently, the iPhone 14 Pro has a 1/1.28-inch sensor, and there are no rumors of a larger sensor size for the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro.

These camera improvements lend credence to rumors that Apple intends to bring an iPhone Ultra model to market as early as next year, and a post from Digital Chat Station joins rumors of a larger sensor and a vertical camera could see a resurgence.

As for the iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro, we expect to see the addition of a periscopic lens. However, this feature is said to be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Rumors of a new 8P, or eight-element lens for the iPhone 15 Pro's main camera have been dispelled, and Apple is said to be sticking with the 7P lens. More lens elements would allow the lens to absorb more light and reduce image distortion, which could be essential for wide-angle lenses.

Apple will probably stick to its usual announcement pattern. As a result, the 2023 iPhone lineup is expected to be announced starting September 6, with the 2024 iPhone lineup to be announced 12 months later at the same time. For now, see our iPhone 15 Pro Max hub for the latest leaks.