Kuo: 2023 iPhones will be equipped with a “ periscopic ” telephoto lens

Apple iPhones will adopt a “periscope telephoto lens” in 2023, according to a research note shared tonight by well-respected TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Kuo didn’t elaborate, but we’ve heard several earlier rumors about Apple’s work on a periscope lens, which would allow significant improvements in optical zoom capabilities. Kuo has previously said he expects Apple to adopt a periscope lens in 2022 iPhone models, but it now appears he believes that won’t happen until 2023.

Existing smartphones have already adopted periscope lens technology. Huawei’s P30 Pro allows 5x optical zoom, and an ‌iPhone‌ with a periscope lens might have similar capabilities. Current iPhones maximize 2.5x optical zoom and 12x digital zoom, but better zoom capabilities could allow Apple iPhones to compete with smartphones that have focused on the zoom functionality. Samsung’s latest smartphones, for example, have a 100x zoom feature that current Apple iPhones can’t match.

In addition to predictions for periscope lens technology coming in 2023, Kuo shared details about the 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 improved coating technologies. It’s unclear if this will have end-user benefits for iPhone owners or if it will simply mean lower production costs for Apple.

In the past, it was widely believed that the reason why the Tx lens had to adopt a glass material was to avoid distortion due to the heat generated by the operation of the VCSEL. Our latest survey indicates that the Face ID TX lens of the new ‌iPhone‌ 2H21 will be made of plastic instead of glass, thanks to improved coating technologies and that the Tx plastic lens suppliers are Largan and Genius, with Largan being the primary beneficiary of this material. change due to its higher supply share.

The high-end iPhones released in 2021 will also feature an improved telephoto lens, with Apple moving from a 5-element lens to a 6-element lens, which Kuo says is made possible through “design and production advantages.” .

Kuo said the rear camera upgrades coming to high-end iPhones in 2022 will focus on the telephoto lens, with Apple moving from a 6-element lens to a 7-element lens for the iPhone‌ 14.

The ‌iPhone‌ models coming in 2022 are also expected to adopt a new “unibody lens design,” which Kuo says Apple will use to reduce the size of the front camera module.

To reduce the size of the front camera module, we expect the new ‌iPhone‌ to adopt a 2H22 unibody lens design at the earliest. This design requires the lens and the VCM [voice coil motor] to be assembled before shipment to CCM. Since Largan will start shipping ‌iPhone‌ VCM for new iPhones in 2:21 am, we believe that if Apple adopts the unibody lens design in the future, Largan, a new VCM supplier, will be able to incorporate the benefits of design production. objective and benefit from this new trend.

Kuo previously said he believes the ‌iPhone‌ 2022 models will go from a notch to a 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 production yields are high enough, all 2022 iPhones could use the same punch-hole design.