The iPhone 12 could see a significant upgrade to its camera department as hinted by recent patent filings

The iPhone 12 is still a year away, but the narrative surrounding it is already sparking discussion on the web. And with the recent patent filing being uncovered, this discussion will take on new heights in the coming weeks.

The patent in question revolves around the possibility of the iPhone 12 getting a major upgrade in its camera department. Of course, it’s important to remember that Apple continuously files numerous patents, so there’s no guarantee that this particular feature will make its way in next year’s iteration.

With that being said, let’s dive right in. As Apple Insider reported, the iPhone 12 could see its wide-angle and telephoto lens getting upgraded by multi-stacking lenses angled at a lengthwise position.

iPhone 12 taking a page out of Huawei’s book

Huwaei has already done this to the P30 Pro, and it appears Apple is trying to follow suit. By stacking lenses horizontally and using mirrors to manipulate light, this could be a significant upgrade to the iPhone 12.

This is due to the obvious fact that smartphones can only use multi-stacking at a crosswise position for a limited number since manufacturers will have to sacrifice width in order to achieve the desired result. But with the lenses being stacked on top of the other lengthwise, this eliminates the need to thicken the iPhone 12, while also upgrading the smartphone’s camera.

iPhone 12 rumors should be taken with a grain of salt

There are two patent filings done by Apple on this, one for the wide-angle, while the other is for the telephoto. The former has a 3mm-equivalent focal length ranging between 50 to 85mm and has 28 to 41-degree angle field of view. The latter, on the other hand, is at 80-200mm focal length range, with a 17.8 to 28.5-degree field of view. The idea is exciting for sure, but it’s not certain that the iPhone 12 will get this upgrade.

Meanwhile, next year’s entry is reportedly taking design inspiration from its predecessor that was released almost a decade ago. According to reliable Apple leaker Ming-Chi Kuo, the tech giant could be looking to bring back the squared-off edge design found on the iPhone 4 and outfit it on the iPhone 12, Forbes reported. But similar to the camera discussion, this, too, isn’t set in stone, and there’s no telling what Apple is planning for the iPhone 12 next year.