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- The iPhone that Apple is expected to release in 2022 is rumored to come with a "periscope"-style camera that could dramatically boost the quality of zoom photos compared to today's iPhones with standard zoom cameras.
- Samsung added a periscope-zoom lens to its $1,400 Galaxy S20 Ultra in 2020, which should give you an idea of what to expect if Apple's 2022 iPhone comes with a periscope-zoom lens.
- I took some photos from the tallest buildings in New York City (before the coronavirus pandemic) with the Galaxy S20 Ultra and iPhone 11 Pro Max, and it clearly shows how much of a difference a periscope-zoom lens makes.
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At least one of Apple's iPhones in 2022 is expected to have a "periscope"-style zoom lens, according to a TF International Securities report by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has reliably predicted Apple's product moves in the past. The report was obtained by MacRumors.
Periscope-style zoom cameras use a variety of prisms and mirrors, just like a periscope, to increase the range for optical zooming.
In a sentence, periscope-zoom lenses can zoom in further before losing clarity and detail. They also allow a smartphone user to zoom in further before their camera switches to artificial "digital" zooming, which leads to a huge loss in detail and clarity.
Samsung introduced its first smartphone with a periscope zoom lens in 2020 - the Galaxy S20 Ultra - with an optical zoom range of up to 10x, whereas the iPhone 11 series has an optical zoom of up to 2x.
The difference is significant, to say the least, and iPhone users should be pleased when iPhones start getting periscope lenses. Check it out: