Mobile photography is about to take a new step. Samsung just introduced a new technology called ALoP (All Lenses on Prism) that could change the way we take portraits in low light conditions.
Photographic modules for smartphones have traditionally suffered from a technical limitation: increasing the brightness of the lens also meant increasing its size. But Samsung just turned that equation upside down with its ALoP technology.
Instead of arranging the lenses vertically as in current systems, Samsung places them horizontally and uses a prism to redirect the light towards the sensor. Result? Brighter lens without a significant increase in the thickness of the photomodule.
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Promising technical performances
The first results are promising. The Samsung-developed lens offers an aperture of f/2.58 at 80mm, beating the iPhone 15’s f/2.8. This configuration would allow night portraits to be captured with significantly less digital noise.
Even more impressive, the new module would be 22% shorter than current systems. A feat that opens the way to new possibilities: imagine two telephoto lenses in the same smartphone without sacrificing its elegant design.
This innovation is not just an incremental improvement. This is an important optimization for mobile photography components. The ability to create a brighter lens without sacrificing size could revolutionize smartphone photography.
For now, Samsung remains cautious, calling the technology “the telephoto solution of the future.” Experts expect a possible smartphone integration around 2025, and not earlier. There is no indication that the Galaxy S25 Ultra will adopt such technology. It’s not unusual to see some Chinese manufacturers rushing to these new innovations. For Samsung, we will most likely have to wait for the next Galaxy S26 Ultra in 2026.
Manufacturers like Oppo and Apple are also exploring new camera module architectures, each trying to push the boundaries of what’s possible. It remains to be seen which manufacturer will stand out in photos in the coming years as it is now increasingly difficult to decide between them in photos.