Kuo: 2023 iPhones to Feature 'Periscopic' Telephoto Lens

[ian87w]

I don't know what are you talking about, and especially how you determined being in the "90% plus". There's a great number of scenarios where a good optical zoom comes in handy because you simply physically can't zoom in with your feet. Be it landscape photography, street scenes, architectural details, wildlife - you name it. And yes, modern smartphone cameras are capable enough for all of those scenarios. Computational photography made it possible.

Periscope telephoto lens allows for 5-10x optical zoom that is always in your pocket, that is awesome tech. And personally, it's upsetting Apple is like 4 years behind with adopting it

Majority of mid-range and lower Android phones, and even the Pixel 5 and the non-pro iPhones, opted for wide and ultra-wide lenses instead of telephoto lens. Seems like the larger market segment found ultrawide more useful. So I wouldn't dismiss the "90%" claim just like that.

Besides, current digital zooms are decent enough with the current high-res sensors (64 and 108MP) coupled with machine learning. That will only get better.

 

[wesley96]

Existing smartphones have already adopted periscope lens technology. Huawei's P30 Pro allows for 5x optical zoom, and an iPhone with a periscope lens could have similar capabilities. Current iPhones max out at 2.5x optical zoom and 12x digital zoom, but better zoom capabilities could let Apple's iPhones compete with smartphones that have focused on zoom functionality. Samsung's latest smartphones, for example, have a 100x zoom feature that Apple 's current iPhones can't match.

It should be clarified that Samsung's 100x zoom number combines digital zoom. Galaxy S20 Ultra had 4x optical zoom @ 48MP which was cropped to make it effectively 10x optical, while S21 Ultra had 10x optical zoom (periscope lens) @ 10MP. Then the 10x digital zoom was applied to achieve 100x in both cases. Leaving the digital zoom part, you could say that the Samsung's latest high-end smartphone offers 10x optical zoom.

Personally, I'm interested in seeing how far the periscope lens tech will go in terms of optical zoom capability. As far as smartphone camera competition is concerned, the first round was the megapixels, then the second round was the low-light capability. We're now entering the third round involving optical zoom.

 

[Freeangel1]

Talk about unhinged...

please explain your unhinged comment?

I was just stating FACTS and history on the UNIX operating system.

It was designed from the very start to be LEAN and secure.

By adding fancy GUI graphics and things not really needed APPLE has made a bloated and Not Secure operating system

How is this unhinged ? It's just a technical comment.

 

[The Game 161]

he not long ago said 2022 now 2023

I wouldn't trust Kuo with his timelines to be honest. I think 2022 seems more likely

pericope lens needs to happen though it's the one area where apple really need to improve on.

 

[Jony Ive and Co.]

If these rumors are true, then Apple really has changed the iPhone timeline. Sigh
The good old days of 2 year design cycles (and S upgrade years) have now morphed into these slight design changes (iPhone 7 and 11) every year and it takes years for a truly new design

 

[steve09090]

I have zero interest with a phone with more than x5 zoom. If I want more, I’ll use a pro camera lens with pro quality optics. The Samsung proved that the optics are not nearly comparable.

 

[mazz0]

Well I for one can't wait. There's this really cute girl who lives over the road, but their house is set really far back from the road.

 

[mazz0]

please explain your unhinged comment?

I was just stating FACTS and history on the UNIX operating system.

It was designed from the very start to be LEAN and secure.

By adding fancy GUI graphics and things not really needed APPLE has made a bloated and Not Secure operating system

How is this unhinged ? It's just a technical comment.

I think they maybe meant cos of all the SHOUTING and Random Capitalisation?

That said, you also made "technical" assertions with no evidence or justification at all.

Overall it came across as a bit ranty.

 

[the future]

I have zero interest with a phone with more than x5 zoom. If I want more, I’ll use a pro camera lens with pro quality optics. The Samsung proved that the optics are not nearly comparable.

No, Samsung just proved, again, that features will be (relatively) crappy if all you care about is being first to implement them, in order to sell to the spec sheet crowd. Apple implements the same feature only when they can do so holding their own quality standards. Hence, 2022-3 for the periscope camera with larger optical zoom, which is the only important feature still missing on iPhone to make it a complete, awesome point-and-shoot camera.

 

[zombierunner]

Kuo needs to chill.

 

[LFC2020]

Samsung's latest smartphones, for example, have a 100x zoom feature that Apple 's current iPhones can't match

Why is this even getting mentioned in the article, it’s the biggest gimmick, useless feature that most people wouldn’t even use, photos come out looking like trash. Kind of sums up Samsung phones.

Got no problems with the 2.5x optical zoom, never felt like I’ve needed more zoom.

When the hardware and time is right, apple will add more zoom.

iPhone already had the best point and shoot camera in the business, which is the most important feature for a camera.

Samsungs still have camera lag, camera overheating and shutter issues, that doesn’t sound like Innovation.

 

[SnakeEater1993]

No, Samsung just proved, again, that features will be (relatively) crappy if all you care about is being first to implement them, in order to sell to the spec sheet crowd. Apple implements the same feature only when they can do so holding their own quality standards. Hence, 2022-3 for the periscope camera with larger optical zoom, which is the only important feature still missing on iPhone to make it a complete, awesome point-and-shoot camera.

periscope zoom sensor exists since 2019(!)with p30 pro... 4!!!years for R&D is just lazy engineering for such things...It's not a fold device ffs...

 

[MacBH928]

They should change the name from iPhone to iCamera.

With four lenses on the device, its been a very long time since I heard an advancement on the "phone" aspect of the device. They hardly even changed the phone gui.

 

[Shanghaichica]

2023 is really too long to wait.

 

[steve09090]

No, Samsung just proved, again, that features will be (relatively) crappy if all you care about is being first to implement them, in order to sell to the spec sheet crowd. Apple implements the same feature only when they can do so holding their own quality standards. Hence, 2022-3 for the periscope camera with larger optical zoom, which is the only important feature still missing on iPhone to make it a complete, awesome point-and-shoot camera.

I’d agree, but you still can’t beat physics. I agree that apple will generally only implement hardware/features when they work properly, but there’s a reason why I won’t use a super zoom point and shoot. More power to those who do.

Well I for one can't wait. There's this really cute girl who lives over the road, but their house is set really far back from the road.

That’s beyond borderline creepy. Recommend you delete that comment.

 

[LFC2020]

Kuo needs to chill.

Kuo doesn’t have a 100% track record, I wouldn’t take anything he says seriously, seems like his got a new leak every day. He needs to sit his ass down.

 

[LFC2020]

2023 is really too long to wait.

It’ll be here before you know it. 😁😂

 

[hellosil]

Current iPhones max out at 2.5x optical zoom and 12x digital zoom

That would be 2 to 5x optical zoom:

• iPhone 12 = 2x
• iPhone 12 Pro = 4x
• iPhone 12 Pro Max = 5x

 

[steve09090]

periscope zoom sensor exists since 2019(!)with p30 pro... 4!!!years for R&D is just lazy engineering for such things...It's not a fold device ffs...

What’s the reason for a x100 zoom besides proof of concept?

 

[LFC2020]

What’s the reason for a x100 zoom besides proof of concept?

It’s a gimmick that will suck people in to buy a Samsung phone.

 

[nnoble]

Are we really going to see a periscope or is somebody simply mangling English?

Periscope: an optical instrument for viewing objects that are above the level of direct sight or in an otherwise obstructed field of vision, consisting essentially of a tube with an arrangement of prisms or mirrors and, usually, lenses: used especially in submarines.

 

[HarryWild]

Apple is now always 2-3 years behind Samsung and now other top Chineses smartphone companies in implementing state of art features. It still selling very well too. LOL!

 

[LFC2020]

Are we really going to see a periscope or is somebody simply mangling English?

Periscope: an optical instrument for viewing objects that are above the level of direct sight or in an otherwise obstructed field of vision, consisting essentially of a tube with an arrangement of prisms or mirrors and, usually, lenses: used especially in submarines.

Never say never, don’t forget apple did invent the smartphone and it’s been a one horse race ever since 😊

 

[LFC2020]

Apple is now always 2-3 years behind Samsung and now other top Chineses smartphone companies in implementing state of art features. It still selling very well too. LOL!

Wouldn’t call rushed features state of the arts, think gimmicks is the better word.

 

[otternonsense]

Only thing that will excite me about the new phones is no notch. The rest seems so small of a change to care.

This. I still can't get used to it. And also any novelty on the user experience would be welcome at this point. Whether you use an iPhone Χ or a 12, other than the chassis materials it feels like you're using the exact same device.

That's fine for consistency, sure, but isn't it time iOS broke some new ground, interface & usability wise? The widgets are a half-thought, space consuming and ultimately forgettable add-on. Siri had got a couple useful features years ago thanks to automated shortcuts but is still dumb as ever.