Adam Kos As far as cameras are concerned, Apple follows a clear strategy in its iPhones. Its base line has two, and the Pro models have three. It has been since the iPhone 11 that we expect the iPhone 15 this year. And quite possibly we will see that Apple will change its classic layout.
After all, a number of speculations have once again sprung up, expecting Apple to launch its first iPhone with a periscopic telephoto lens with this year's iPhone 15 series. Rumors but they add that this technological innovation will be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro Max only. But it makes quite a bit of sense.
Samsung is the leader here
Today, Samsung is introducing its line of top-of-the-line Galaxy S23 phones, where the Galaxy S23 Ultra model will include a periscope telephoto lens. It will provide its users with 10x zoom of the scene, while the company equips the phone with the more classic one with 3x optical zoom. But this is nothing new for Samsung. "Periscope" already included the Galaxy S20 Ultra, which the company released at the beginning of 2020, even though it only had 4x zoom back then.
Galaxy s22 ultra
The Galaxy S10 Ultra model came with 21x zoom, and it is practically present in the Galaxy S22 Ultra model as well, and its deployment is also expected in the planned novelty. But why does Samsung only give it to this model? Precisely because it is the most equipped, the most expensive and also the largest.
It could be interest you
Size matters
Space requirements are the main reason why this solution is present only in the largest phones. Using a periscope lens in smaller models would come at the expense of other hardware, typically battery size, and nobody wants that. Since this technology is also still quite expensive, it would unnecessarily increase the price of a more affordable solution.
iPhone 13 Pro Max vs. iPhone 14 Pro Max
So this is the main reason why Apple only equips the largest model with a "periscope", if at all. After all, we have already seen many differences even in the quality of cameras in one line between several models, so it would not be anything special. The question is whether Apple will replace the existing telephoto lens with it, which is less likely, or whether the new Pro Max will have four lenses.
It could be interest you
Specific use
But then there is the iPhone 14 Plus (and theoretically the iPhone 15 Plus), which is actually the same size as the iPhone 14 Pro Max. But the basic series is intended for the average user, whom Apple thinks does not need a telephoto lens let alone a periscope telephoto lens. We had the chance to test the capabilities of the 10x periscope telephoto lens on the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and it's true that it's still somewhat limited.
Photo from the Galaxy S22 Ultra
An inexperienced user who only takes snapshots and does not think too much about the result has no chance to appreciate this solution, and could be rather disappointed with its results, especially when used in poor lighting conditions. And that's what Apple wants to avoid. So if we ever see a periscope telephoto lens in iPhones, it is certain that it will only be in the Pro models (or the speculated Ultra) and ideally only the larger Max model.
