The iPhone 15 Pro Max (possibly to be released as the rumored iPhone 15 Ultra) has long been rumored to feature a new periscope lens camera. This would improve the optical zoom capabilities of the iPhone's camera, bringing it closer to the 10x optical zoom found in Samsung's Galaxy S22 Ultra.

But now it appears that this upgrade could borrow technology from Samsung: according to The Elec (opens in new tab) (translated from Korean), Apple will move the lens of the periscope lens to zoom in or out Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) actuators and will use Korean companies LG Innotek and Jahwa Electronics. Apple reportedly chose these suppliers because they partnered with Samsung to develop a ball-guided actuator that is technologically superior to the current spring mechanism Apple uses in the iPhone's OIS actuator

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Apple is aware of Samsung's superiority when it comes to powerful optical zoom in camera phones and seems to be trying to join Samsung, or at least partner with one of Samsung's suppliers, rather than trying to beat Samsung. If Apple manages to add a periscope lens to the iPhone 15 Ultra that combines the iPhone's superior imaging capabilities with Samsung's superior optical zoom technology, the phone, which will be available later this year, could become the clear front-runner for the best camera phone on the market There is potential for this to be the best camera phone on the market.

In addition, it appears that the periscope lens could be included not only on the Ultra model, but also on the iPhone 16 Pro and Ultra models in 2024. the periscope lens, which The Elec reports is called "Folded Zoom," will be available this year on the iPhone 15 Ultra only, but there are plans to include it in both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Ultra in 2024.

This report is largely consistent with the rumors we have seen so far, at least in that the periscope lens will be limited to the iPhone 15 Ultra model, rather than also being included in the iPhone 15 Pro. Initial rumors suggested that both the Pro and Ultra models would have the new periscope lens, but recent reports, including this TrendForce report, seem to have debunked that theory. Keep following along with the latest iPhone 15 Ultra rumors for all things coming to Apple's next generation of the best phones we've tested.