Samsung could end up helping Apple greatly improve the camera array on future iPhone models

According to the English language model of ET News, Apple is in search of suppliers that may ship “folded cameras.” Such a part could be used to improve the optical zoom functionality on future iPhone models. The folded camera has been utilized by different producers together with (however not restricted to) Samsung and Huawei and are additionally referred to as periscope cameras. That’s as a result of they refract gentle like a periscope and the lens and sensors are positioned horizontally as a substitute of vertically.

Apple, in accordance with sources conversant in the firm’s considering course of, already has had talks with a selected firm to acquire patented “folded camera” know-how and patents. Using the periscope, an upcoming iPhone mannequin must be “capable of present high-magnification optical zoom with out affecting the thickness of a smartphone. In different phrases, even with a extra highly effective optical zoom, the iPhone will not essentially must have a bigger camera bump.

Among the comparatively few firms that supply “folded cameras” is Samsung which used it on the Galaxy S20 Ultra’s 100x Space Zoom. Samsung acquired lots of the patents wanted for this know-how when it acquired Israel’s Corephotonics final yr. An official from the camera module business stated, “Ball-type actuator is the key to folded camera, and patents related to the actuator are in possession of Corephotonics that was recently acquired by Samsung Electronics. It is heard that Apple is not able to easily design folded camera structure due to patent issues.”

Apple’s camera module suppliers embody LG Innotek, Sharp, and O-Film. By supplying Apple with elements for “folded cameras,” Samsung would be a part of the iPhone provide chain for cameras. But there are some who say that Samsung is not going to work with Apple on these cameras in order that it may well keep a aggressive benefit over the iPhone.