Apple Could Be Bringing A Periscope Lens To iPhones As Soon As 2022
Image via Apple
Apple’s 2022 iPhone lineup could possibly see a new integration to its camera systems, a periscope lens, allowing for potentially up to 10x optical zoom, according to the latest memo by well-known tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In brief, the periscope lens would allow smartphones to accommodate a traditional camera’s “long lens” despite the device not being thick enough for the proper implementation. The higher the zoom factor, the longer the distance between the rear and front elements of the lens needs to be.
This addition, therefore, would bring a solution in the form of rotating the lens to catch the light, which has been bent at a 90-degree angle using prisms.
Referring to a “folded camera” in its patent, the company proposes to include “a lens stack including one or more refractive lens elements mounted in a lens barrel, and an aperture stop located at or in front of a first lens element in the stack.”
Kuo actually already predicted this as early as November last year, and then hinted at it again to MacRumors this March, securing him another correct prediction if this indeed is debuted next year.
Apple isn’t the only company interested in utilizing this technology to enhance its smartphone cameras. Existing models from rival companies include Oppo’s Find X2 Pro, Huawei’s P30 Pro, and Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Ultra.
All this being said, the patent doesn’t mention iPhones in particular, so the new lens may end up being used in other devices. However, the iPhones seem to be the most likely new host for this technology, given their already-stiff competition. We’ll just have to wait and see.
[via 9to5Mac, image via Apple]
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