The iPhone will get a periscopic telephoto lens in 2023, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims in a new research note seen by Cult of Mac.
Although Kuo doesn’t provide much in the way of details, this would greatly improve the zoom capabilities of the iPhone. Currently the best iPhone for camera zoom is the iPhone 12 Pro Max. That handset features a 2.5x optical zoom in, and 2x optical zoom out. Digital zoom goes up to 12x.
A periscope zoom could increase this significantly. For example, the 2019-era Huawei P30 Pro and Oppo Reno offer 10x zoom capabilities using a periscope lens.
Periscope lenses works by shifting light 90 degrees using a prism, passing it through multiple elements, prior to it reaching the images sensor. This greatly improves the optical zooming capabilities without having to resort to digital zooms, which reduce the quality of the image.
More news on future iPhone camera systems
Kuo has some other information about the iPhone camera in his research note. He suggests that the iPhone 13’s telephoto lens will increase from six-element to seven-element. This should, in theory, mean better camera setup with improved correction for distortion and chromatic aberration. More lens elements doesn’t necessarily mean better end image, but this is a broad trend.
In addition, the Face ID sensor in the next iPhone will reportedly change from being a glass lens to a plastic one.
