Apple hasn’t even announced the iPhone 14 yet, but we’re already hearing rumors of 2023 iPhone models. Currently, the number one rumored feature is the periscope lens for better optical zoom. While analysts initially believed this technology would be exclusive to the 2023 Pro models, Ming-Chi Kuo now claims that only the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max will receive the new lens.

For the unfamiliar, periscopic lenses rely on a prism that reflects light onto multiple internal lenses at a 90-degree angle to the camera sensor. This allows the lens length to be much longer than a telephoto lens, resulting in much better optical magnification.

The telephoto lens on iPhone 13 Pro models only offers 3x optical zoom and 15x digital zoom. Meanwhile, Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra already has a periscope lens that provides 10x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom. While Apple is reportedly planning to bring Periscope to the iPhone, it looks like this feature will be more limited than expected.

That’s because, according to Kuo, the new periscope will only be available on the larger and more expensive iPhone 15 Pro Max, while the smaller iPhone 15 Pro will retain its regular telephoto lens for optical zoom. The analyst says the 1/3″ sensor will have a 12-megapixel resolution with f/2.8 aperture, sensor shift stabilization and up to 6x optical zoom.

Those who prefer smaller phones will have to wait until 2024 to get an iPhone with a periscope lens, as Kuo states that both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature this technology. Not surprisingly, the mid-range iPhone 15 and 16 models will not have a periscope lens. The analyst also believes that the periscope lens used on the iPhone 16 Pro models will be the same or very similar to the one used on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Source