Apple cancels Samsung’s periscope order for iPhone 2023 and runs into patent issues

For iPhone launching in 2023, Apple will reportedly upgrade the camera system with the inclusion of a periscope lens to improve the zoom feature. Cupertino tech giant is looking for a specific folded zoom technology that does not protrude out of the rear camera module.

Previously, tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that Samsung will provide periscope telephoto lenses to the Cupertino tech giant. But a new report refutes that.

The Elec reports that as Apple expands its supply chain by acquiring the advanced zoom technology for 2023 iPhones other suppliers, LG InnoTek and Jahwa Electronics, instead of Samsung. Thus, it might face a patent hurdle because Samsung Electronics owns the required patents.

To finalize orders of periscope telephoto lenses for iPhone 2023, Apple  would resolve patent issues with Samsung this year

Several smartphones already come with periscope telephotos lens for advanced zoom like Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro, Oppo Reno, Huawei P40 Pro Plus, Pixel 4 XL, OnePlus 8 Pro, and others. But Apple wants to introduce the feature two years from now, in the 2023 iPhone models because it believes in giving the best version of the folded zoom technology, not the first.

To procure components in advance, the company will finalize the supply chain this year: LG InnoTek to provide folded zoom modules and Jahwa Electronics to ball guide actuators. But both patents are owned by Samsung.

Samsung Electronics had secured the patents needed for the technology by acquiring Israel-based Corephotonix in 2019.

Jahwa co-developed the OIS technology with Samsung and Samsung Electro-Mechanics, raising concerns that it may not be able to supply them to Apple.

However, the report predicts that Apple will resolve the patent issue with Samsung.

For Apple to adopt folded zoom for iPhones in 2023, it needs to finalize the specs and suppliers within this year.

Apple seems positioned to procure OIS from Jahwa, while it will looking for alternative ways to handle the patent problem this poses. Cupertino likely has its own workaround for the patents or will pay licensing fee to Samsung.