Apple Lining Up Periscope Telephoto Lens Suppliers for 2022 iPhone

[MacRumors]

Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo today released a new report detailing his research on which lens suppliers will begin providing parts for Apple in the coming years.

We predict that Semco, the best Korean lens supplier, and Sunny Optical, the best Chinese lens supplier, will enter the Apple lens supply chain in 2H20 and 2021, respectively.

The new suppliers are said to hurt the revenue of Genius Electronic Optical, which presently provides lenses for Apple.

While the ins and outs of which suppliers source Apple's parts may not be of great interest to consumers, Kuo references another shift that will be of interest to iPhone buyers. Kuo believes that Semco will be providing a large percentage of new periscope telephoto lenses to Apple for the 2022 iPhone.

Kuo previously reported on Apple's design plans for periscope lenses in conjunction with Taiwanese supplier Genius Electronic Optical, though it seems those plans may have changed.

Periscope lenses have already seen their way into some smartphones and provide manufacturers a way to provide much higher optical zoom in a smartphone-sized package. Huawei, for example, ships the P30 Pro which offers a 5x true optical zoom using a similar mechanism. A 10x optical zoom phone is reportedly also in the works from Huawei.

Apple has filed patents related to periscope lenses as recently as 2016. According to the description included in the patent, light would be channeled into the camera through a primary lens, bounced off of the included mirror in the smartphone, and then would be sent to a secondary lens that moves up and down for the purpose of zooming in. Apple describes it as a "folded telephoto camera lens system".

Article Link: Apple Lining Up Periscope Telephoto Lens Suppliers for 2022 iPhone

 

[Shanghaichica]

A bit late but it will have to do.

 

[johnnytravels]

Ok, I will get the 2022 iPhone then.
Unless there’s a report next year suggesting substantial improvements for the '23 model

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Mr. Ming Chi Kuo Do you have any news/updates on the iPhone 12???

 

[I7guy]

@jclo The word “Suppliers“ instead of “Supplies” in the thread title?

 

[Seoras]

Is Ming Chi Kuo also script writer on the Simpsons? Hey Ming, when will the world be free of the Corona Virus? I often find myself wondering if that name is Chinese for Mystic Meg.

 

[theapplehead]

iPhones honestly seem like they need to pick up the pace with the lack of optical zoom. It’s 2020 and the flagship iPhone currently only has 2x optical zoom yet Huawei is packing in 5x optical zoom and likely will soon push out 10x. Apple has got to step their game up.

 

[yellow8]

iPhone's cameras are so good nowadays!

 

[Shanghaichica]

iPhone's cameras are so good nowadays!

it is really good. Only thing it’s missing is more zoom. Otherwise everything else is top notch.

 

[yellow8]

Agreed, zoom would be very nice.
I suppose that it is really difficult to make a good optical zoom in such a small camera (distortion issues or whatsoever...), and that Apple wants to make it right rather than make it fast (Hello SpyHuawei).

 

[The Game 161]

Shame it’s two years after than android...note 20 ultra will have 5x optical, 10x digital and 50x zoom

Tech which I feel is useful

 

[wordup60]

Any chance that this could spell the end of the camera bump and we can finally lay our phones flat again without wobbling when you type?

 

[the future]

Can't wait for the addition of a telephoto lens to the iPhone. Hopefully in 2021 rather than 2022 …

Btw. weren't there rumours that the 2020 Pro models will go to 3x instead of 2x?

Btw #2 – these are not "zoom" lenses. A zoom lens optically delivers various focal lengths. All smartphone lenses are for a single focal length.

 

[The Game 161]

Can't wait for the addition of a telephoto lens to the iPhone. Hopefully in 2021 rather than 2022 …

Btw. weren't there rumours that the 2020 Pro models will go to 3x instead of 2x?

Btw #2 – these are not "zoom" lenses. A zoom lens optically delivers various focal lengths. All smartphone lenses are for a single focal length.

Has been rumoured the pro line will be 3x this year yeah

 

[Jony Ive and Co.]

iPhones honestly seem like they need to pick up the pace with the lack of optical zoom. It’s 2020 and the flagship iPhone currently only has 2x optical zoom yet Huawei is packing in 5x optical zoom and likely will soon push out 10x. Apple has got to step their game up.

Completely agree. Apple is falling wayyyyyyy behind the competition. 2X optical zoom is unacceptable in 2020 (and 2019 when 11 Pro Max was released last year). Apple really should implement 100X zoom like S20 Ultra and P40 Pro+, but do it in a much better way that doesnt scarifice quality. I need ultra crisp and clear long range zoom.

 

[yellow8]

Don't forget Apple is never the first on the market. But when they arrive, the quality is fantastic.

 

[Abazigal]

Completely agree. Apple is falling wayyyyyyy behind the competition. 2X optical zoom is unacceptable in 2020 (and 2019 when 11 Pro Max was released last year). Apple really should implement 100X zoom like S20 Ultra and P40 Pro+, but do it in a much better way that doesnt scarifice quality. I need ultra crisp and clear long range zoom.

That’s the whole point, no? Companies like Samsung can do it so early because they sacrifice the implementation for the sake of being first.

 

[The Game 161]

That’s the whole point, no? Companies like Samsung can do it so early because they sacrifice the implementation for the sake of being first.

Well 100x Xoom was a mistake but 10x and 30x still looks fantastic given the distance. 50x is where it can tend to lose quality.

 

[Mr. Dee]

I’m glad that I am sticking with my iPhone X until 2023. By then I should see a substantial upgrade.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Completely agree. Apple is falling wayyyyyyy behind the competition. 2X optical zoom is unacceptable in 2020 (and 2019 when 11 Pro Max was released last year). Apple really should implement 100X zoom like S20 Ultra and P40 Pro+, but do it in a much better way that doesnt scarifice quality. I need ultra crisp and clear long range zoom.

5x optical zoom and up to 30 X hybrid zoom (good quality) would be enough. I really don’t want to wait until 2022. That will be 4 years behind Huawei and 2 years after Samsung.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Any chance that this could spell the end of the camera bump and we can finally lay our phones flat again without wobbling when you type?

I doubt it. It doesn’t seem to be a very high priority for Apple. Like the notch, I think Apple will continue to choose function over form.

 

[entropys]

5x optical zoom and up to 30 X hybrid zoom (good quality) would be enough. I really don’t want to wait until 2022. That will be 4 years behind Huawei and 2 years after Samsung.

True if it does, but by this point it should be pretty clear Apple is not interested in benchmarking itself against Huawei.

 

[The Game 161]

5x optical zoom and up to 30 X hybrid zoom (good quality) would be enough. I really don’t want to wait until 2022. That will be 4 years behind Huawei and 2 years after Samsung.

And what will these companies have in 2022 out? So even when Apple catch up with this what else will they be behind in two years?

 

[allenvanhellen]

Wake me up when they have an all-front-OLED-screen phone near the size of the iPhone 4S or maybe 1st-gen SE that has this zoom lens.

 

[whoknows2597]

Ok, I will get the 2022 iPhone then.
Unless there’s a report next year suggesting substantial improvements for the '23 model

Might as well wait until 2030. There may be reports of a truly wireless iPhone with distance charging and other high tech features 🤣