Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has backed up previous reports about the introduction of a periscope lens in the iPhone with further information from the supply chain.
The term periscope refers to a mechanism that allows a folding lens. This gives iPhones a significantly greater optical zoom without the phone having to be thicker. There have long been rumors that Apple is planning a periscope lens for the iPhone 15 series. However, there have been problems with this. One major problem was that Samsung owns patents on the technology and Apple reportedly wants to exclude this company from the supply chain for the foldable zoom camera. Apple has therefore been looking for alternative suppliers. Loud Ming-Chi Kuo is expected that Apple will now be a boon to several camera component suppliers.
The complete periscope lens module consists of a high-ASP 1G2P lens, two high-ASP prisms and a lens barrel. The high-ASP materials are the key to increasing production value. Apple's lens supplier will provide more complicated assembly services for the first time, so Largan and Genius are expanding their production capacity in Taichung and Xiamen to fulfill this order.
Periscope lens could be extended to other iPhone models in the future
ASP is the average selling price and in this case, Kuo believes that cost is a problem for Apple and its suppliers.
If the initial yield is not good, the ASP can even be $60-70 or more.
That's one reason why, according to Kuo, Apple is currently working with five suppliers to get the periscope lens and related features. That's also likely a reason why the lens will initially only be available for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Kuo explains that he expects the lens to be found in the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. But he also believes that suppliers will later "benefit from more iPhone 16 models adopting the periscope and other rear camera upgrades." (Photo by hadrian / Bigstockphoto)
