Apple iPhone 7 may sport twin camera system, reveals patent application

Apple has a track record of unveiling its most coveted device in its annual fall event that takes place in September every year. The Cupertino tech giant is expected to release the next generation of iPhones in late 2016.

Yesterday, a fresh patent application published by the US Patent & Trademark Office confirmed that Apple is looking at the idea of incorporating dual rear camera modules in its next iteration of iPhones. First noted by Patently Apple, the company’s patent filed in June 2015 read, “methods and/or systems for using multiple cameras to provide optical zoom to a user.”

The summary of the application reveals that with dual-camera modules, users will be able to swap between two focal lengths with standard and telephoto sections. However, the patent also clarifies that there are ways by which the owners will be able to concurrently use both camera units.

The patent also suggests that the new innovative design may help users to naturally combine video and images via Apple’s iMovie software. It even hints that a single capture could create a combination of 4K video, 1080p video, slow motion video as well as images.

According to a report in 9to5Mac, last year, Apple’s acquisition of LinX, which specialises in making “miniature multi-aperture cameras designed for mobile devices,” does support and justify this news. Apple bought LinX Computational Imaging Ltd, an Israel-based camera technology firm, for about US$20 million (AU$28,363,769.6.)

LinX’s camera tech uses multiple lenses instead of relying on a single or extended camera lens. This would help mobile devices capture high-quality, SLR-level photographs.

Earlier reports suggested that Apple is testing at least five different iPhone 7 configurations with wireless charging technology, in-display fingerprint scanner and multi-touch sensitive Force Touch technology. Rumours are also rife that the next generation of iPhone 7 may sport a waterproof and dustproof design, 3 GB of RAM and 256 GB internal storage. It will also reportedly be the thinnest iPhone ever.