Skip to main content

Apple may include lens mounting system in future iPhone, new patent reveals

apple iphone 5s screen rear camera macro
Image used with permission by copyright holder

A patent granted to Apple this week detailing a lens-mounting system for the iPhone comes during an intense hiring period for the tech giant for positions connected with the iPhone camera’s hardware and software.

The patent, which was filed back in 2012 and granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday, refers to a bayonet lens attachment mechanism that would allow iPhone users to attach a variety of lenses offering keen shooters greater creativity possibilities, MacRumors reported this week.

apple camera lens patentSuch a bayonet mount is common with DSLR cameras, allowing the lens to slot securely into position, precisely aligning mechanical and electrical features of both the the lens and the camera body to help ensure reliable and efficient performance.

In its filing, Apple discusses various solutions for bringing interchangeable lenses to its handset, among them cases which incorporate a lens attachment which fits over the handset’s camera lens. However, the Cupertino company says that such an accessory “alters the form factor of the electronic device….which may be undesirable to a consumer.”

It also talks of an attachment in the form of a magnetic ring that fits around the phone’s lens, but says that such a component may not be secure enough to deal with everyday handling of the phone, or may be “unsightly.” According to its patent, Apple’s suggested bayonet mechanism would be much more secure as it’d be built into a cavity around the camera lens. In addition, you’d be unlikely to notice it when a lens wasn’t attached.

While Apple continues to explore various ideas for interchangeable lenses for its handset, other companies have wasted little time in offering their own solutions in the last few years, among them the well regarded Ollo Clip 3-in-1 lens, the iPhone Lens Dial, and this intriguing one capable of holding the biggest DSLR lenses on the market.  

A step up

Apple’s latest camera lens concept is certainly a step up from the one that surfaced in a patent granted to the company two years ago. That one, called “Back Panel for a Portable Electronic Device with Different Camera Lens Options,” described a removable back that would allow a user to attach alternative panels, each one holding a different lens. One diagram even showed a panel with two lenses – on opposite corners – that you’d spin around to swap lenses.

Not surprisingly, the ‘panel’ idea has never seen the light of day, and likely never will, and as with anything that turns up in a patent, we can’t say for sure if Apple’s bayonet mechanism will make it onto its handset either.

However, a steady flow of camera-related patents from Apple in recent months – plus the fact that the company has, in just the last few weeks, advertised for nearly 25 camera-related positions covering everything from sensor design to lens metrology to camera module integration – indicates a handset’s camera is more than ever a key battleground in the ongoing fight to secure a greater share of the smartphone market.

Editors' Recommendations

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
iPhone 16: news, rumored price, release date, and more
A person holding the Apple iPhone 15 Plus and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

We're a few months removed from the launch of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, so you know what that means: iPhone 16 rumors are in full force. Talk is heating up about everything from design leaks and rumored specs to camera changes and more.

Read more
Why you should buy the iPhone 15 Pro instead of the iPhone 15 Pro Max
Natural Titanium iPhone 15 Pro with Chopper and BD-1 droids around it.

Apple releases multiple iPhones every year, offering folks choice in terms of size and features. In 2024, the iPhone 15 lineup includes four distinct models.

The regular iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are great for those who don’t need a telephoto lens and don’t care about the Action button or the 1TB of storage. But anyone who wants a more “pro” experience has the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Read more
iPhone SE 4: news, rumored price, release date, and more
The Apple iPhone SE (2022) and Apple iPhone SE (2020) together.

While the spotlight always seems to be on Apple’s mainline iPhones, the iPhone SE is a great pick for those who are on a budget. If you want an iPhone that doesn't break the bank, the SE is the way to go.

The original iPhone SE came out in 2016, and then Apple revamped it in 2020 and 2022 by giving it some more modern hardware. The iPhone SE tends to get updated every two or so years rather than annually like the traditional iPhone. This means  that we should see a new iPhone SE 4 this year, but it’s not so cut-and-dried with this particular model.

Read more