Speculation about the iPhone 15, the next iteration of the Apple smartphone lineup, is rampant all over the Internet. The latest sources suggest that the long-awaited periscope camera is finally coming to Apple’s premium iPhone lineup, but with a change. According to renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the periscope camera will be exclusive to only one model over the next two cycles: the iPhone 15 Ultra and iPhone 16 Ultra.

The news surprised many in the tech industry, who had previously expected both iPhone 16 Pro models to have periscope cameras. The periscopic lens, which provides a longer optical zoom, radically changes the rules of taking photos on a smartphone. Thanks to the curved lens design, the periscope camera can accommodate a longer zoom in a smaller space, resulting in a much larger zoom without digital cropping.

As for the periscope lens supplier, Kuo predicts that Apple will turn to alternative suppliers such as Largan and Genius instead of Samsung. Choosing the iPhone 15 Ultra as the sole buyer of the periscope camera may affect the revenue estimates of the companies that supply the lenses, but the exact reason for this decision is unknown.

It’s worth noting that the name “iPhone 15 Ultra” is just a placeholder, and Apple’s naming scheme may change in the future. Early sources also suggest that the iPhone 15 will have a round body, and this will be a big change for the series as Apple hasn’t updated the iPhone’s design for a while. In addition to the design changes, the latest iPhones will also feature a USB Type-C port, an update Apple consumers have been waiting for. Kuo has been talking about Apple’s future plans for a while, so sources of information about the periscope camera might be on point. However, if Apple sticks to its traditional release schedule, consumers will have to wait until September for the iPhone 15 release.