The iPhone 15 Pro Max may finally catch up with Android flagships on zooming, but these phones already have the most powerful periscope lenses.
You’ve probably seen those viral videos or reels on tech Twitter or Instagram, where the Galaxy S23 Ultra zooms in on distant objects, while the iPhone struggles to keep up and starts pixelating anything beyond 10x (or less, depending on how dark it is). Zooming is one of the big advantages that Android flagships have over iPhones, and also one of the most heated topics of debate among smartphone enthusiasts.
But things might change soon, as Apple is rumoured to launch the iPhone 15 series with a much improved zoom hardware. The iPhone 15 Pro Max could have 6x or even 10x periscope lenses, which would allow it to get uncomfortably close to its subjects.
As we wait for Tuesday’s big reveal, we decided to rank the best smartphones with periscope lenses that are available right now.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Often called as the king of zoom, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra can practically zoom into anything – no matter the distance – and still maintain an impressive amount of detail. While some may think this is due to the massive 200MP sensor, the true hero is the in-built periscope lens that zooms 10x optically and up to 100x digitally. Of course, zooming beyond 30x requires a steady hand, but if you manage that, you will be amazed by the results. Aside from the 10x periscope, the Galaxy S23 Ultra also features a 3x zoom for the sake of versatility.
Google Pixel 7 Pro
If One UI isn’t your cup of tea but periscope lenses are still important to you, then the Pixel 7 Pro makes for an excellent alternative. Its 48MP 5x periscope lens isn’t as impressive but still lets you go all the way up to 30x. Then there’s the 50MP primary camera which, boosted by Google’s excellent computational photography, fetches you one of the best imaging experiences around.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Users in India are pretty starved for choice when it comes to phones with periscope lenses as Chinese brands do not bring their flagships here. So if neither the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Pixel 7 Pro fit the bill, the older Galaxy S22 Ultra is the next immediate choice for zoom enthusiasts. Compared to its successor, the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s camera system is hardly any different – both phones feature dual 10MP telephoto cameras with 3x and 10x optical zoom. It’s just that the S22 Ultra loses out on some detail on its primary camera with its less pixel-dense 108MP sensor.
Oppo Find X6 Pro
Unfortunately, the list of periscope cameras readily available in India ended with the previous option. Still, the Oppo Find X6 Pro is worth a mention if it launches outside of China because then it’d be purchasable via unofficial channels. The handset is overall an excellent device to own with a pleasing design and clean software. It has a 50MP zoom camera with a stabilised periscope lens for 2.8x optical zoom. The phone also has a maximum zoom of 120x. The primary camera and ultrawide cameras also feature 50MP sensors, which should result in a more uniform experience.
Honor Magic 5 Pro
Honor is making a comeback in India. But while there’s no word on the launch of any device other than the Honor 90, the brand’s flagship handset does deserve a mention anyway. Powered by the spirit of the now-somewhat-crippled Huawei, the Magic 5 Pro runs MagicOS and packs some impressive hardware. The design is rather unconventional with its off-center pill-shaped cutout that includes a 12MP selfie shooter and a TOF sensor for facial authentication, but it may appeal to people in search of something quirky. Besides this, the phone packs a 50MP primary, 5MP periscope lens offering 3.5x optical zoom, and a 50 MP ultrawide.
Xiaomi 13 Ultra
Hailed as the best portrait camera system by many with its impressive image processing and Leica partnership, the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is not to be trifled with. Like the Galaxy S23 Ultra, it packs four cameras on the rear, except this time, they all have a 50MP resolution for a more cohesive experience. The 50MP periscope lens lets you go 5x optically, while the 50MP telephoto lens zooms in 3x. Unfortunately, the phone hasn’t made it to the country, and the closest you can get to owning one is if you purchase the Xiaomi 13 Pro, which only has the 3x telephoto lens.
