Skip to main content

Rumors suggest the iPhone 15 Pro will get a periscope lens in 2023

The iPhone 13 series is just a few months old, but rumors surrounding the next iPhone lineup are in full swing. Unsurprisingly, we are also hearing what Apple might not include on the iPhone 14, which means it’ll come to the next generation, presumably the anticipated iPhone 15. One such feature is a periscope lens.

Why does a periscope lens matter anyway?

According to a report from MacRumors, analyst Jeff Pu claims that Apple will include a periscope lens on the Pro model of the 2023 iPhones. For those unaware, a periscope lens helps increase the optical zoom capacity, helping you snap better-quality zoom shots. A periscope lens has an mirror angled toward the camera’s image sensor that reflects the light entering the telephoto camera. This setup allows smartphone manufacturers to put in a longer telephoto setup inside their phones, which helps users zoom in further without any blurriness.

The periscope lens rumor isn’t coming out of the blue. Past leaks, some ranging as far back as 2020, have claimed the possibility of the iPhone 15 Pro getting better optical zoom capabilities with a periscope camera. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had initially claimed that a periscope lens would be an iPhone 14 Pro feature, which seems unlikely now with the recent reports. It looks like Apple fans will have to wait another year to get their hands on an iPhone with a periscope lens.

By contrast, Samsung and Huawei already sell smartphones with periscope lenses. The Galaxy S21 Ultra and Huawei’s P40 Pro+ are some of the latest devices with up to 10x optical zoom – a feature that is touted for 2023 iPhones.

Editors' Recommendations

Prakhar Khanna
Prakhar writes news, reviews and features for Digital Trends. He is an independent tech journalist who has been a part of the…
Here’s what iOS 17’s coolest feature looks like in action
Apple NameDrop in action.

Apple has rolled out iOS 17 globally, and if you’ve already installed it, you might be surprised by the lack of visual pizazz that it offers. That observation isn’t far from reality. With the exception of StandBy mode, which essentially turns your iPhone into a glorified smart display while charging, there really isn’t much of a visual wow factor here.

But if you dig deeper, you will find that Apple really flexed its design muscles at the most basic level — telephony. With iOS 17, Apple introduced Contact Posters. Think of them as a digital identity card, one that allows a heap of styling and really lights up your call screen.

Read more
iPhone 15 Pro Max durability test ends with big surprise
iphone 15 pro max durability tests ends with big surprise test

Zack Nelson of popular YouTube channel JerryRigEverything has been at it again, subjecting yet another phone to the kind of durability test that will leave you wincing in horror.

Be gentle with Apples new Titanium iPhone 15 Pro Max ... Yikes!

Read more
As a parent, there’s one iPhone 15 feature I can’t wait to use
Apple promotional image of the iPhone 15 Pro's camera and curved chassis.

Apple’s next-generation iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models are finally here. The entire iPhone 15 lineup has Dynamic Island and USB-C. With the standard iPhone 15, you get the A16 Bionic that was introduced last year, and the iPhone 15 Pro models get the new A17 Pro chip and Action button. And if you opt for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, you also get the brand new tetraprism telephoto lens for 5x optical zoom capabilities.

While the new hardware changes are nice, Apple also has some new software features that are exclusive to the iPhone 15 lineup. One of these is the new Auto Portrait mode, and as a parent of a very active toddler, this is one of the most exciting things for me about the entire iPhone 15 lineup.
What is Auto Portrait?

Read more