Apple is said to be equipped with a periscope lens only for the iPhone 15 Pro Max version launched next year.
TF International Securities analyst Ming-chi Kuo said camera vendors are developing potential cameras for the iPhone, but only for the most expensive version. This is in line with the strategy of gradually upgrading new technology on iPhone generations to maintain the highest possible profit margin.
Apple doesn’t usually rush to put new technology on its products. They are willing to wait for Android smartphone manufacturers to deploy first, such as OLED screens, punch-hole cameras … to assess market reaction as well as wait for the technology to be completed and have a better price. This strategy is also applied by Apple to the periscope lens. Since 2019, Huawei and Oppo have opened the superzoom camera race with the P30 Pro and Reno Zoom 10x. Then, Samsung joined in with a 10x zoom lens for the S series model. If Apple integrates this technology on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the periscope camera promises to become a general trend.
According to Mr. Kuo, the periscope on the original iPhone 15 Pro Max is capable of 6x optical zoom, uses a 12-megapixel resolution sensor and f/2.8 aperture, comes with Apple’s proprietary Sensor Shift anti-shake technology.
One of the reasons Apple was slow to roll out the periscope lens is because the component is very expensive. Currently, a 7P lens on the iPhone costs $2 while the periscope lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is expected to cost $15. Mr. Kuo also said that if component suppliers do not make enough profit, the cost of this component could increase to several tens of dollars, forcing Apple to raise the price of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
From mid-2021, Apple is granted a patent related to a periscope camera called Folded Camera. According to the description, this technology allows the integration of a multi-lens camera module on mobile devices with the aim of improving the camera’s photographic effects. The new module contains two prism-like components, as well as an independent and shiftable lens system to provide autofocus and optical image stabilization. In addition, the texture of the shape, materials, and arrangement of the lens elements are also carefully calculated, resulting in high-resolution images. New technology will help the camera on the iPhone be able to zoom from 10x to 100x.
However, according to GizChina, Apple at that time was not trying to race new technology by any means, so it did not rush to put it on the iPhone but continued to perfect the solution and will equip the phone with new features in 2023.
