Apple iPhones will adopt a “periscopic telephoto lens” in 2023, according to a research note shared tonight with renowned IT Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
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Kuo did not analyze, but we heard several rumors beforehand about Apple’s work on a periscope lens, which would allow major improvements in optical zoom capabilities. Kuo previously said that he expected Apple to adopt a periscope lens in iPhone 2022 models, but it now seems that he thinks that will not happen until 2023.
Existing smartphones have adopted periscope lens technology. Huawei’s P30 Pro allows 5x optical zoom, and iPhone-like capabilities with a periscope lens. Conventional iPhones excel at 2.5x optical zoom and 12x digital zoom, but improved zoom capabilities could allow Apple iPhones to compete with smartphones that have focused on zoom capability. For example, Samsung’s latest smartphones have 100x smart features that Apple’s standard iPhones can’t match.
In addition to the prediction of periscopic lens technology coming in 2023, Kuo shared details about both 2021 and 2022 iPhones.
For the 2021 iPhones, Kuo believes Apple will adopt a new Face ID transmitter made from plastic material instead of glass, which is now possible thanks to better cover technologies. It is unclear whether this will have end-user benefits for iPhone owners or whether it will simply mean a reduction in production cost for Apple.
In the past, it was widely believed that the reason the Tx lens had to undertake glass material was to avoid distortion due to the heat generated by VCSEL operation. Our latest review reveals that the Face ID TX lens for the new 2H21 iPhone will be made of plastic instead of glass, thanks to improved coating technologies and that Largan and Genius are the Tx plastic lens suppliers, by Largan as the main advantage of this material. change due to its higher supply share.
High-end iPhones released in 2021 will also feature an updated telephoto lens, with Apple upgrading from a 5-element lens to a 6-element lens, which Kuo says is possible through “design and production. “
Kuo said the rear-facing camera developments coming to high-end iPhones in 2022 will focus on the telephoto lens, with Apple upgrading from a 6-element lens to a 7-element lens for the iPhone 14.
IPhone models coming in 2022 are expected to adopt a new “unibody lens design,” which Kuo says Apple will use to reduce the size of the front-facing camera model.
To reduce the size of the front camera model, we predict that the new iPhone will adopt a unibody lens design in 2H22 at the earliest. This design requires the lens and VCM [voice coil motor] be collected before submission to CCM. With Largan starting to deliver iPhone VCM for new iPhones in 2H21, we believe that if Apple adopts the unibody lens design in the future, Largan, a new VCM provider, can integrate the benefits of lens design and gain from this new movement.
Kuo previously said that he believes the 20iPhone 2022 models will change from a notch to a hole punch-style display that some Android smartphones have previously adopted. Apple is expected to use this design for high-end iPhones coming in 2022, but if productivity is high enough, all 2022 iPhones could use the same punch hole design.