No, you won't be able to peep around objects but you will be able to zoom in more with a faster more accurate lens
(Image credit: Apple)
Apple is reportedly on the hunt for a manufacturer to supply a periscope lens that could feature on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. And while it won’t be the kind of periscope that can pop up and peep around corners, it will enable you to zoom more than ever before.
Periscope lenses offer more zoom capabilities than a standard smartphone lens, delivering 5x or even 10x optical zoom – a pretty big jump from the standard 3x optical zoom you find in most of the best iPhones for photography.
Spring-type actuators, supplied by Alps Alpine and Mizumo, are used in all the current iPhones, but ball guide actuators in periscope lenses are faster at focusing, more accurate and use less power.
This could mean that not only will the iPhone 15 Pro Max benefit from a camera that is faster and able to zoom much closer, but we could see a significant improvement in battery life too. For anyone who shoots a lot of mobile photos and video content, the upgraded features will definitely be advantageous – and if it’s a success, perhaps Apple will start to include periscope lenses on the standard models too.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is due to arrive later this year, usually around the first or second week in September if previous years are anything to go by. While the standard iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro won’t have the periscope lens, Apple is rumored to be ditching the 12MP main camera in favor of a higher-resolution 48MP sensor. No complaints here, as we’re all for any camera upgrades!
Having studied Journalism and Public Relations at the University of the West of England Hannah developed a love for photography through a module on photojournalism. She specializes in Portrait, Fashion and lifestyle photography but has more recently branched out in the world of stylized product photography. For the last 3 years Hannah has worked at Wex Photo Video as a Senior Sales Assistant using her experience and knowledge of cameras to help people buy the equipment that is right for them. With 5 years experience working with studio lighting, Hannah has run many successful workshops teaching people how to use different lighting setups.