Apple’s innovative tetraprism telephoto lens assembly, introduced in the iPhone 15 Pro Max, set a new standard for smartphone periscope zoom capabilities. Although 5x optical zoom had been previously achieved by Android competitors, Apple’s unique optical design and “tetraprism” branding marked a significant advancement in the field.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics has recently filed a patent for a “hexaprism” lens, hinting at their development of an even more advanced periscope telephoto system that could potentially surpass Apple’s tetraprism technology.
The hexaprism lens, as the name implies, consists of six lenses meticulously arranged within a periscope configuration. This innovative design enables a substantial increase in focal length, potentially ranging from 180mm to 7000mm. The abstract of Samsung‘s patent provides further insight into the optics that Samsung may be planning to use in one of its future Ultra flagships:
Samsung’s patent abstract offers a technical overview of the hexaprism lens, outlining its optical composition. The system comprises six lenses with alternating positive and negative refractive powers, precisely arranged to achieve exceptional image quality and zoom capabilities.
Although Samsung is expected to integrate the hexaprism lens into one of its upcoming S Ultra flagship models, the exact device remains uncertain. While the Galaxy S25 Ultra is rumored to feature a 5x periscope zoom, its focal length may not accommodate the hexa prism’s full potential. Considering the S24 Ultra’s 5x periscope zoom has a focal length of 111mm, the hexa prism technology could potentially debut in the Galaxy S26 Ultra or a subsequent model.
