Periscope-type smartphone camera module

Smartphone camera capabilities have significantly advanced, with particularly innovative developments occurring in the field of telephoto photography. While conventional optical designs struggled to achieve both slimness and high magnification simultaneously, periscope-type camera modules are expected to solve this challenge.

This article details the key points pioneering a new era for smartphone cameras, including the latest technologies in periscope camera structures and the potential of variable telephoto lenses.

Basic Structure and Features of Periscope-Style Smartphone Cameras

This mechanism achieves both thinness and high optical zoom by placing the lens horizontally inside the smartphone and using prisms and mirrors to refract the light path.

Conventional camera systems required vertically oriented lenses to achieve long focal lengths, inevitably increasing device thickness. The periscope design, however, places lenses horizontally and employs prisms to bend light 90 degrees, enabling efficient use of internal smartphone space. This structure offers significant advantages: it maintains a slim design while delivering high-magnification zoom capabilities.

Furthermore, the periscope type, by positioning the lens group nearly horizontally, also has the characteristic of being easier to suppress the image quality degradation that typically occurs with conventional telephoto lenses. On the other hand, it is true that the adjustment of prisms and optical components is demanding, resulting in high manufacturing costs and significant technical hurdles. Nevertheless, manufacturers seeking to differentiate their smartphone cameras are actively considering the adoption of the periscope system.

Latest camera technology and variable telephoto lens

Various manufacturers are developing new optical technologies utilizing prisms. By employing these technologies to redesign the optical structure of periscope cameras, they are attracting attention for enabling brighter, higher-quality imaging than conventional models.

While light deficiency in low-light conditions was often a challenge with conventional periscope cameras, the improved structure captures more light via the prism, enabling clear, low-noise images even at night. Furthermore, by refining the placement of the prism and lens, the module length can be reduced by up to approximately 30%, contributing to a smaller camera bump.

Meanwhile, research on variable telephoto lenses is also advancing. Systems that freely adjust focal length could significantly broaden the scope of photography. However, incorporating motors and moving parts complicates the structure, presenting numerous hurdles to overcome regarding durability and cost. Nevertheless, the combination of this technology and variable telephoto lenses will likely be a major key to leading the future competition in smartphone cameras.

Mechanism for improving low-light photography performance

The improved optical structure features prisms that more efficiently concentrate light, increasing the amount of light reaching the sensor even in low-light environments. Furthermore, when combined with a high-sensitivity image sensor, it enables faster shutter speeds than conventional periscope systems, making it easier to reduce camera shake. As a result, it delivers clear photos with rich color reproduction and low noise, even in low-light situations like night scenes or indoor settings.

Key Design Points for Achieving Both Thinness and High Performance

Periscope cameras require designs that prioritize thin device profiles while achieving high-magnification zoom. The new structure integrates the lens group while optimizing prism placement to reduce internal wasted space and consolidate complex optical paths into a single unit. This enables enhanced telephoto capabilities without compromising exterior design, delivering a user-friendly camera experience.

High-Sensitivity Image Sensors and Competitive Technologies

The performance of a camera is significantly influenced not only by the lens but also by the image sensor. Companies are fiercely competing in this field.

Large image sensors excel at reducing noise in low-light conditions and achieving high dynamic range. Furthermore, by applying autofocus and tracking technologies developed for DSLR cameras to smartphones, high-precision photography capable of instantly capturing subjects is becoming possible.

Meanwhile, competitors are advancing their own image sensor development, striving to enhance overall camera performance by combining these sensors with optical zoom capabilities. Amid intensifying market competition, manufacturers are seeking collaborations while leveraging their proprietary technological advantages to drive further innovation. With multi-camera configurations—combining multiple sensors—now commonplace, a key challenge is how to miniaturize and integrate larger, higher-resolution image sensors.

The Evolution of Smartphone Cameras Brought by Periscope Zoom Technology

For smartphones equipped with multiple camera lenses, periscope zoom technology paves the way for even higher magnification.

Previous smartphone cameras often relied on digital zoom, which significantly degraded image quality at higher magnification levels. Periscope zoom technology achieves optical focal length extension, enabling higher-quality images even at high magnification. Furthermore, when combined with multi-camera configurations that switch between wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle, and telephoto lenses depending on the scene, users can now enjoy a broader range of photographic expression.

On the other hand, the greater the magnification of distant subjects, the more susceptible the image becomes to camera shake. Therefore, enhancing optical image stabilization (OIS) and electronic image stabilization (EIS) is essential. The latest periscope modules are advancing solutions to address these issues. Alongside advancements in lenses and sensors, sophisticated image processing algorithms minimize image degradation at the telephoto end, enabling the creation of highly detailed photos. Looking ahead, further improvements in periscope technology are anticipated to meet user demand for even higher zoom ratios.

Benefits and Considerations of High-Power Zoom

The greatest appeal of high-magnification zoom lies in its ability to capture distant subjects in fine detail, making it invaluable for sports viewing and landscape photography. However, challenges such as camera shake during telephoto shooting and slower focus speeds make it difficult to master. Manufacturers are therefore advancing efforts to enhance stability through both hardware and software improvements. Combining optical image stabilization with AI-based image processing opens up new possibilities for achieving an even higher-quality telephoto shooting experience.

Development Trends and Market Outlook for Major Smartphone Manufacturers

Many smartphone manufacturers are focusing their efforts on developing periscope cameras, with expectations for future market expansion.

Rumors suggest next-generation models may feature periscope cameras, potentially competing with existing series in zoom performance. Devices already adopting the periscope design have emerged, emphasizing the benefits of high-magnification zoom to differentiate camera capabilities. Users increasingly demand DSLR-level quality from smartphones, strengthening the trend where camera evolution drives the market.

Looking ahead, beyond simply enhancing the performance of periscope cameras, expectations are high for achieving more diverse shooting styles through larger sensor sizes and integration with AI image processing. Manufacturers are moving towards comprehensively enhancing features like zoom magnification, low-light performance, and shooting assist functions to meet user demands. Furthermore, as this technology spreads beyond high-end premium smartphones into the mid-range segment, the adoption of periscope camera-equipped models is expected to accelerate.

Challenges and Future Potential for the Practical Application of Variable-Length Telephoto Lenses

Variable telephoto lenses that freely adjust focal length are highly appealing, but numerous challenges remain to be addressed—such as module durability and control precision—making further technological innovation essential for practical implementation.

While variable telephoto lenses offer the advantage of covering a wide zoom range, their complex internal moving mechanisms increase the risk of failure and drive up costs. Furthermore, there are significant physical constraints, such as securing space inside smartphones and managing heat dissipation. Despite this, demand for innovative photography experiences remains high, prompting multiple manufacturers to develop prototypes and pursue practical implementation.

Hybrid systems combining existing periscope cameras with seamless switching between multiple focal lengths are also under consideration. Achieving such composite technologies would enable smartphone cameras to handle a broader range of shooting environments, evolving into tools suitable for video production and specialized fields. However, in the market, it remains essential for each brand to advance its own technological development and differentiation while carefully gauging user response.

Summary｜Periscope Technology That Further Advances Smartphone Cameras

Comprehensive innovations including periscope technology and high-sensitivity image sensors are expected to dramatically improve smartphone camera performance. The evolution of mobile cameras remains something to keep a close eye on.

Periscope cameras have significantly enhanced the smartphone photography experience by achieving both slim designs and high-magnification zoom. Furthermore, new technologies like variable telephoto lenses and AI image processing are emerging, pushing smartphone cameras toward expression capabilities rivaling digital SLRs.

These innovations have enabled smartphone photography and videography to cover a wide range of scenarios, from everyday use to professional applications. Future evolution directions include further increases in zoom magnification, larger sensors, and the development of new shooting techniques. As technological competition in the mobile industry accelerates, the possibilities opened up by periscope-type camera modules will continue to expand.