Tag: Periscope Telephoto Lens

  • Redmi K90 Pro and POCO F8 Ultra May Have Periscope Camera

    Redmi K90 Pro and POCO F8 Ultra May Have Periscope Camera

    Key Takeaways

    1. The upcoming Redmi K90 Pro and POCO F8 Ultra will feature enhanced camera technology with upgraded zoom capabilities.
    2. The K90 Pro is expected to include a periscope telephoto lens and an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner under the display.
    3. The POCO F8 Ultra is likely a rebranded version of the Redmi K90 Pro, suggesting it will share similar camera enhancements.
    4. The Redmi K90 Pro previously featured a 50MP telephoto lens with 2.5x optical zoom and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), indicating potential improvements in optical zoom.
    5. Early prototypes of these models may also come with periscope telephoto cameras, following trends set by previous models like the Redmi Note 14 Pro+.


    Next gen Redmi and POCO flagship smartphones might be seeing enhancements in their camera features. A recent rumor has suggested that the forthcoming Redmi K90 Pro and POCO F8 Ultra models will include advanced camera technology designed to improve magnification for photography. Here’s what we’ve learned up until now.

    Redmi K90 Pro & POCO F8 Ultra Featuring Enhanced Telephoto Lens

    The upcoming models, Redmi K90 Pro and POCO F8 Ultra, have been uncovered in Weibo posts, indicating that both will have upgraded zoom cameras. The K90 Pro is set to receive several enhancements, such as an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner beneath the display and a periscope telephoto lens. The POCO F8 Ultra is anticipated to be essentially a rebranded Redmi K90 Pro, suggesting that it will also include this new camera technology.

    Previous Redmi K80 Pro Features

    To refresh your memory, the Redmi K90 Pro debuted with a 50MP telephoto lens that supports 2.5x optical zoom along with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). Therefore, it’s likely that the K90 Pro will offer improved optical zoom features. The leak discusses upcoming flagship smartphones from the sub-brands of Chinese manufacturers. These next-gen devices may be equipped with the new Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 SoC. Although the specific model names weren’t disclosed, they might refer to the OnePlus 14, Realme GT 8 Pro, and the Redmi K90 series.

    Insights from Digital Chat Station

    Digital Chat Station suggests that early engineering prototypes are expected to come with periscope telephoto cameras as well (according to 91Mobiles). It was only a matter of time before the popular Redmi K series included a periscope telephoto shooter, especially since the more budget-friendly Redmi Note 14 Pro+ already features similar technology.

  • Xiaomi 15 Ultra Camera Sample Shows Low-Light Periscope Power

    Xiaomi 15 Ultra Camera Sample Shows Low-Light Periscope Power

    Key Takeaways

    1. Xiaomi is set to launch the Xiaomi 15 Ultra by the end of this month, showcasing significant advancements in low-light photography.
    2. The camera sample highlights the performance of the 100mm periscope telephoto lens, rumored to use a 200-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL HP9 sensor.
    3. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is expected to feature a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, a 2K micro-curved display, and support for satellite communication.
    4. The camera configuration includes a 50-megapixel main sensor, ultra-wide lens, telephoto lens, and the advanced periscope camera.
    5. A price increase is anticipated for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, likely exceeding the previous model’s launch price of 6,499 Yuan (about $890).


    Xiaomi is gearing up to reveal the Xiaomi 15 Ultra by the end of this month. Before the official launch, Lei Jun, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Xiaomi, has posted the first camera sample on Weibo, highlighting its performance in low-light situations. The photo indicates notable advancements in night photography, especially with the periscope telephoto lens.

    Impressive Low-Light Performance

    The sample shared comes from the 100mm periscope telephoto lens of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, and not from the main sensor. Thus, it seems this image was taken using the rumored 200-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL HP9 periscope camera. This sensor, which measures 1/1.4 inches, employs 4×4 pixel binning technology to boost low-light performance, enabling sharp and detailed telephoto images in dim settings. It’s also anticipated to offer 4.3x optical zoom along with 100x AI-enhanced digital zoom, positioning it as one of the leading periscope telephoto cameras available.

    Camera Advancements and Expectations

    Previously, Lei Jun mentioned that the Xiaomi 15 Ultra would introduce revolutionary changes in night photography, implying that its periscope camera could redefine low-light telephoto imaging. The sample image seems to validate these statements, showcasing remarkable clarity, minimal noise, and well-balanced highlights.

    Specs and Pricing Insights

    In addition to its camera capabilities, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is rumored to be equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, a 2K micro-curved display, an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor embedded in the screen, and will support satellite communication, with its top model featuring Beidou dual-satellite connectivity.

    The camera configuration for the 15 Ultra is expected to include a 50-megapixel LYT-900 main sensor, a 50-megapixel Samsung JN5 ultra-wide lens, a 50-megapixel IMX858 telephoto lens, along with the 200-megapixel Samsung HP9 periscope telephoto sensor. A 6,000mAh battery with support for 90W wired and 50W wireless charging might also be included.

    Lei Jun hinted there might be a price increase due to rising costs in research and components. The previous Xiaomi 14 Ultra was launched at 6,499 Yuan (about $890), and considering the trends, the 15 Ultra is likely to exceed this price. Nevertheless, the precise pricing will be disclosed at the launch event expected later this month.

  • Samsung’s Answer to Apple’s Tetraprism Telephoto?

    Samsung’s Answer to Apple’s Tetraprism Telephoto?

    Apple has introduced an innovative tetraprism telephoto lens assembly for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, featuring a 5x periscope telephoto capability. Although a 5x optical zoom is not new for Android devices, the tetraprism technology and its branding bring fresh advancements to the industry.

    Samsung’s Hexa Prism Lens

    Recent developments reveal that Samsung Electro-Mechanics has filed a patent application for a potential competitor to Apple’s periscope telephoto solution. This new technology, dubbed the ‘hexa prism’ lens, suggests an enhanced version of existing periscope zoom capabilities.

    As implied by the name, this lens setup consists of six lenses that are designed to deliver superior periscope zoom functionality. Among these, three lenses are concave, causing light to bulge outward, while the remaining are convex. These lenses are positioned within a periscope, allowing the assembly to achieve an extended focal length, ranging from 180mm to 7000mm.

    Details from Samsung’s Patent

    The patent abstract from Samsung offers a closer look at the proposed optical system that may be incorporated into future Ultra flagship models:

    “An optical imaging system includes a first lens with negative refractive power, a convex object-side surface, and a concave image-side surface; a second lens with positive refractive power; a third lens with negative refractive power; a fourth lens with positive refractive power; a fifth lens with negative refractive power; and a sixth lens with positive refractive power and an image-side surface featuring an inflection point. The first through sixth lenses are arranged sequentially in ascending numerical order from the object side of the optical imaging system toward the imaging plane.”

    Future Applications

    While Samsung is expected to integrate this technology into one of its S Ultra flagship models, the specific model to first feature the ‘hexa prism’ lens remains uncertain. The Galaxy S25 Ultra is rumored to include a 5x periscope telephoto camera; however, given the focal length capabilities of the ‘hexa prism’ lens, it is unlikely to be the S25 Ultra. For reference, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s 5x periscope telephoto has a focal length of 111mm. Therefore, the ‘hexa prism’ technology might debut in the S26 Ultra or another future model.