Industry analyst Jeff Pu predicts that at least one iPhone 15 model launched in 2023 will feature a periscope camera system, allowing for increased optical zoom.
The periscope system would allow light entering the telephoto lens on the back of the iPhone to be reflected by an angled mirror towards the camera’s image sensor. That would allow Apple to fit a longer telephoto setup inside the iPhone, allowing users to zoom in closer without any blurriness.
Rumors like this have been circulating since early 2020, with reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also mentioning the possibility. Kuo initially claimed that a periscope lens would be a feature on the iPhone 14 Pro, but it now appears that we’ll have to wait until the iPhone 15 Pro’s 2023 release.
If the iPhone does gain a periscope camera system, it will join a growing list of Android smartphones with periscope lenses, including Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Ultra and Huawei’s P40 Pro+.