Smartphones iPhone 11 and newer may soon begin to support new photography accessories, including special flash units that connect through the device’s built-in Lightning connector. This was reported by sources informed of new specifications provided to manufacturers of accessories in the updated licensing program for Apple iPhone (MFi). The document provides for new types of accessories, such as, for example, a flash for the iPhone, which connects through Lightning. It will work by analogy with the Smart Battery Case.
New specifications will allow the accessory in the flash to synchronize with the built-in flash of the device, as well as perform pairing using wireless technology. Theoretically, a Lightning connection can also allow accessories to charge (or charge an iPhone themselves) simultaneously through Lightning, as is the case with other MFi accessories such as batteries, game controllers, and headsets.
New iPhone Accessories
There are currently several accessories for the iPhone with a flash like the Lume Cube, but they all use Bluetooth to connect and are not compatible with the MFi program. The Lume Cube also has an optical sensor for use as an external flash, with which it synchronizes with the built-in flash of the iPhone camera.
Another hardware accessory called Tric was designed to sync a third-party flash with the iPhone, but all current solutions also force photographers to pair via Bluetooth and use a third-party accessory manufacturer’s app to sync the shutter button with the iPhone’s built-in flash. With the new MFi program, perhaps Apple will allow it to synchronize accessories with the default camera shutter button on the iPhone or, even easier, with any third-party camera application.
Third-party flash support is currently available as pre-testing through the “Made for iPhone” program for accessory manufacturers and only supports the new iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. Apple has not yet allowed manufacturers to release licensed MFi products that use this feature but provides specifications so they can prepare. Would you buy such a device? Share in our Telegram chat.
Manufacturers will be required to adhere to new standards. If, of course, they want to see the proud inscription “Made for iPhone” on their products, which guarantees consumers the stable operation of this accessory with their “apple” phone. In the opposite case, for any non-compliance with the standards, manufacturers lose not only the well-known inscription but also the right to use, for example, Lightning in their accessories.
Over the past few years, the camera in the iPhone has reached such a level that many photographers abandoned their heavy aggregates with large lenses in favor of a convenient portable solution. And with the release of the iPhone 11 Pro, it has become quite difficult to tell where the picture is from the smartphone, and where is the photo taken with a professional camera. And even if you don’t have the latest iPhone model, you can still take cool pictures – just use a couple of accessories.
