Molded glass lenses are thinner and lighter than traditional ground glass at the same magnification distance. That means the 15 Pro Max's 120mm zoom lens could be incorporated into the smaller iPhone 16 Pro in 2024, bringing it on par with the 16 Pro Max.
Due to the inherent complexity of molded glass lenses, Apple has been carefully preparing for next year's iPhone Pro models. Reports suggest the company is dominating supply chain orders. However, it's possible that others, like Oppo and vivo, could also experiment with using molded lenses as part of the trend.
If you're curious about cast glass, it's a type of glass made by pouring molten glass into a mold and cooling it quickly. This process results in glass that is highly durable and strong, making it well-suited for product applications such as smartphones where strength and durability are essential.
