iPhone 15 Pro Expected to Feature Periscope Lens With Up to 10x Optical Zoom

[Rogue AI]

At least one iPhone 15 model launched in 2023 will feature a periscope camera system, allowing for increased optical zoom, according to analyst Jeff Pu.

With a periscope system, light entering the telephoto lens on the back of the iPhone would be reflected by an angled mirror towards the camera's image sensor. The change in direction in which the light travels would allow for Apple to fit a longer telephoto setup inside the iPhone, enabling users to zoom in further without any blurriness.

Rumors about the iPhone getting a periscope lens have been circulating since early 2020, with reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo the first to mention the possibility. Kuo initially said that a periscope lens would be an iPhone 14 Pro feature, but it is now looking like we'll have to wait until the iPhone 15 Pro next year.

There are already some Android smartphones with periscope lenses, including Samsung's Galaxy S21 Ultra and Huawei's P40 Pro+. Both of those devices feature up to 10x optical zoom, and with the addition of a periscope lens, the iPhone 15 Pro could follow suit. In the meantime, iPhone 13 Pro models are limited to 3x optical zoom.

Article Link: iPhone 15 Pro Expected to Feature Periscope Lens With Up to 10x Optical Zoom

I went the opposite direction this holiday season and sold my iPhone 13 Pro Max and purchased a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3. It's no knock on Apple at all - the 13 PM was a battery beast, the cameras were amazing, and ProMotion is phenomenal. But I wasn't excited about the phone. The Z Fold 3 makes me excited about phones again.

 

[ahostmadsen]

Apple used to be the leading edge in smart phones, the one that competitors copied. Now Apple just copies competitors: whole punch camera, telescope lens, foldable phones... Where is the innovation? Short term Apple still sells lots of iPhones, but if they continue to be behind, there is not much future.

 

[Rogue AI]

Hole punch screen this year for 2022 with a 10% faster A-series processor. Slightly better camera for 2022. 2023 gets a 10x optical zoom capabilities. LOL! Let alone we got 120Hz for 2021. Apple needs the Apple iFold ASAP!

I wouldn't expect the iPhone Fold anytime soon. I just picked up a Z Fold 3 from Samsung because I wanted a fold now.

 

[AirunJae]

I feel like the telephoto is the one lens on which Apple is really behind. I like finally having a little more reach with the 3x, but the quality of photos isn't all that great unless there's a lot of light, and even then sometimes it's not as good as I think it should be.

 

[Guacamole]

The 13 just came out! Can't these people get a hobby? What's next? 'The iPhone 20 will include mental telepathy'?

it will if two years earlier rival phones already have it?

 

[subi257]

I feel like the telephoto is the one lens on which Apple is really behind. I like finally having a little more reach with the 3x, but the quality of photos isn't all that great unless there's a lot of light, and even then sometimes it's not as good as I think it should be.

That's the nature of high megapixel count on a small chip. The pixels are smaller than if it was a lower count. Smaller pixels are less light sensitive.

 

[now i see it]

What about the iPhone 17?

 

[macsareveryinteresting]

A lot of people are saying that the iPhone 15 is going to be a huge upgrade. I believe it now.

 

[Mr. Dee]

What will the 2030 iPhone camera be like? Best prediction.

Hint 😄

 

[macsareveryinteresting]

What will the 2030 iPhone camera be like? Best prediction.

Probably much better Telephoto and optical zoom maybe up to 30-40. It will be like a telescope with more wide cameras.

 

[Havoc035]

I'm skipping iPhone 14 for this.

 

[iBug2]

Periscope lenses are never as sharp as conventional ones. So don't expect the quality to be the same as the regular wide angle lens.

 

[Taipan]

I’m not sure how large image sensors are, but wouldn’t their size being restricted by the thickness of the device be a problem?

 

[Unregistered 4U]

„apple always waits til something majored*

Nah, more like Apple waits until someone says, “Yes, we can have over 100 million of these produced over the year where you plan to release these.” It’s one thing to make a few ten million for Xaiomi, completely different thing to match Apple’s scale.

 

[matthew23]

What does Apple think, we're all going to be driving submarines by the year 2023?

 

[anthogag]

Good news about the camera. If Apple made iPhone's top part thicker to remove the camera bump, could it have 20x zoom?

If iPhone 14 will have a hole-punch camera...make it an excellent hi-res selfie camera

 

[Unregistered 4U]

That's the nature of high megapixel count on a small chip. The pixels are smaller than if it was a lower count. Smaller pixels are less light sensitive.

Apple makes taking photos so easy, folks don’t understand the trade offs demanded by the physics of light. That telephoto needs more light used to be something anyone with a telephoto capable lens was aware of!

 

[Unregistered 4U]

I’m not sure how large image sensors are, but wouldn’t their size being restricted by the thickness of the device be a problem?

Good question, guess I need to look up how large those image sensors are

 

[I7guy]

MIght have to postpone my phone upgrade for two years.

 

[Astalaviso]

My 13 Pro Max has ONE good image sensor, its Back Wide.

The main benefit of a periscope is that the image sensor can "potentially" be greatly increased in size, & thus, incorporate much bigger pixels !

The 10x, OR whatever, is just for the NON-techies !

So they can grab onto something (WRT periscope) !

Don't be fooled, the BIG benefit is that Apple will (finally) be able to migrate away from 1um pixels with the Telephoto !

And BTW, I say potentially, because physics determines what is & what isn't possible, so it's very-dependent-upon whichever Architecture Apple chooses.

The gist, when you hear Periscope, think BIG pixels with the Telephoto !

Like other smartphone manufacturers, they still can opt for a 3x Optical Zoom sensor with bigger pixels like Vivo and S20 Ultra, they had 1/2" sensor of 48MP of 0.8um and bins to 12MP with 1.6um. They don't need periscope lens to have bigger pixels. The issue I'm mentioning is when you're on the main sensor and start zooming. From 1x to 3x there is already a crop from the main sensor (for example 2.4x), when it hits 3x Zoom, the device starts using the other sensor instead of the main one. If Apple will be just adding a 10x Optical Zoom, the zooming between 3x and 10x is all cropping from the 3x sensor until it hits the 10x sensor, like this, Apple will be adding a new camera like the S21 Ultra. IF they they manage to work a continuous zoom periscope, 3x to 10x with the same sensor, only lens movement, Apple can have consistency with the image since it's the same sensor. If you want bigger pixels, you don't need a periscope.

 

[LV426]

Nice. The back of the phone could (finally) go flat again with this technology.

 

[spartan1967]

...We as users need to be more demanding, that's for sure...

And that is keeping our money in our pocket when the new gimmicks are useless or not worth a $1K investment.

 

[cyberslammer]

What will the 2030 iPhone camera be like? Best prediction.

Smaller is better will be the mantra for the iPhone 22.

 

[mi7chy]

Is Apple sourcing the perscope zoom tech from patent holder Samsung?

http://www.thelec.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=3320

 

[SR 7]

Dude who gives a **** about all these camera updates. Is that all Apple talks about? Do they not plan on working on any other part of this phone? Any innovation?

Wow A13 processor and new camera feature. The next year…A14 processor and new camera feature. The next year…A15 processor and new camera feature. We got it man you can just update 2 Parts.