Apple is also developing a periscope-style telephoto lens. A Korean manufacturer joins Apple's supply chain.

On the morning of April 18, it was reported that the future iPhone will add a periscope telephoto lens, and its suppliers are Apple’s long-term camera module partner LG Innotek and the newly joined Korean supplier Jahwa Electronics.

Jahwa is spending 191 billion won to build a new factory, hinting at a partnership with Apple. Apple officials visited Jahwa's factory in South Korea in early 2021.

Jahwa is believed to be supplying Apple with an image stabilization system (OIS) designed to be used with a periscope-like telephoto lens on the iPhone.

People familiar with the matter said that Jahwa Electronics' OIS patent is excellent in foldable zoom technology (also known as periscope telephoto). This technology leads to a periscope camera system that uses a prism to fold light into the image sensor. By mixing light in this way, suppliers can make smaller camera modules and increase the optical zoom range of the iPhone.

Apple typically requires suppliers to build dedicated facilities for its components. Even if Jahwa builds its own factory, it will still need to be approved by Apple - a process that could take up to a year.

Apple has been working with the South Korean company on camera modules since 2019. Apple is trying to improve the iPhone's telephoto lens capabilities. Although still under development, the periscope lens is likely to appear on the iPhone 15 in 2023.