What is a telephoto on iPhone and how does it work?

On iPhone, telephoto refers to the dedicated camera lens that enables optical zoom, allowing iPhone users to get closer to the subject and capture distant subjects with clarity and detail. The telephoto lens on the iPhone relies on optical magnification and supports 2x to 8x zoom, depending on your iPhone model.

What is telephoto on iPhone

The telephoto lens on iPhone is a separate lens with a higher focal length than the standard lens to achieve optical zoom. Unlike digital zoom, which crops and enlarges images, the hardware-based telephoto zoom maintains image quality while bringing distant subjects closer to your view. Apple iPhone 7 Plus was the first to feature a telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom but later, Apple made telephoto exclusive to Pro models. Here’s how a telephoto lens works:

• Physical lens: The dedicated lens uses multiple glass elements to magnify distant objects
• Sensor: There is also a dedicated image sensor optimised for zoom
• Computational photography: Since phones have limited space, Apple also uses computational photography combined with optical zoom for the best results

ALSO READ: Apple iPhone 17 Pro first impressions

With a dedicated telephoto lens on iPhone, Apple supported up to 5x optical zoo,m but iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max support 8x optical zoom. The iPhone 17 Pro series has a focal length between 13mm and 200mm, while the use of dedicated sensors result in improved light capability. The best use of telephoto lenses is for portraits, which allows for a natural background and professional-looking portraits.

FAQs

Q1: Which iPhones have telephoto lenses?

A: In iPhone’s current lineup, only the Pro models have telephoto lenses, but users shouldn’t confuse telephoto with sensor crop seen on iPhone 17 or iPhone Air.

ALSO READ: Best camera phones under Rs 40,000 in India

Q2: Is telephoto better than digital zoom?

A: Yes, telephoto lenses use optical magnification to preserve image quality while digital zoom simply crops into your image, losing details in the process.

With the telephoto lens on iPhone Pro models, Apple allows its users to get closer to their subject without losing detail and sharpness. For the best zoom experience, choose the iPhone 17 Pro, but the iPhone 16 Pro Max is no slouch either.