Apple's Dual Camera System In iPhone 7 Plus To Set The Bar Higher For Smartphones?

The iPhone 7 is still around six to seven months away, but it seems like the market is already abuzz with all sorts of rumors and speculation about what new the device will have to offer.

Among these rumors is the increasing noise about a dual camera system in the iPhone 7 Plus.

The likelihood of the iPhone 7 dual camera system became prominent when Ming-Chi Kuo, a familiar name in the tech sphere known for his reliable sources and insights on future Apple devices, said the next-generation iPhone Plus could include a dual camera system on the back.

While not much is known yet, it seems likely that the two cameras would work in unison to deliver a single high-quality image rather than producing separate images or enabling 3D image capture.

Kuo, an analyst at KGI Securities, also said that the dual camera system of the upcoming iPhone 7 Plus might somehow enable optical zoom, making it possible for the device to narrow down its field of view without compromising a bit on image quality, according to MacRumors.

If the rumors are indeed true, the dual camera system will probably be designed by leveraging LinX's technology. LinX, a camera module maker working on multi-lens systems, was acquired by Apple in April last year.

While Kuo has a commendable track record when it comes to making reliable predictions on future Apple products, the Cupertino-based tech giant has used the same camera module in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus as well alongside an improved version of the same module in the iPhone 6s and iPhone6s Plus.

Usually, the only camera difference between the 4.7-inch variant of the iPhone and its 'Plus' variant is that the larger models come equipped with optical image stabilization.

Therefore, some analysts are taking Kuo's predictions with a grain of salt as reserving the dual-camera system to the iPhone 7 Plus would mean a clear departure from Apple's existing strategy with camera modules.

However, it is also possible that Apple is being forced to reserve the new module only for certain models because some kind of supply chain constraint.

So, why is Apple putting two cameras at the back anyway?

It turns out, the dual camera system could significantly improve the device's low-light performance, HDR performance and color fidelity.

In addition, much akin to a Lytro, it might also enable users to focus on the background or the foreground after capturing an image

Another advantage users can expect is the ability to conveniently switch between lenses to leverage different zooming options.