Samsung ALoP Telephoto to debut at CES 2025 ahead of S25 Slim

Samsung will showcase the ALoP Telephoto (rumored to feature in S25 Slim) at CES 2025. The company recently released an interview with Younggyu Jeong (Task Leader) and Minook Kim (Staff Engineer) of its semiconductor division.

ALoP Telephoto is rumored to debut with the Galaxy S25 Slim, however, Samsung hasn’t dropped any clue yet. The company’s thinner Galaxy S25 model is slated to be released in the second quarter of next year.

The new All Lenses on Prism Telephoto camera features a different lens placement than conventional solutions. With this approach, the sensor reduces the size of the module while enabling brighter image capture.

Telephoto cameras with high zoom ratio require long focal lengths. ALoP places the lenses right on top of the prism, reducing the overall module length.

Key points from the interview:

What is ALoP?

• ALoP (All Lenses on Prism) is a new folded zoom structure for smartphone telephoto cameras, placing lenses directly on top of the prism to reduce module size and improve brightness.

Why is a better telephoto camera needed?

• Telephoto cameras offer high zoom and portrait capabilities, compressing the background and creating background blur effects. They are becoming crucial as smartphone wide-angle sensors reach their limits.

What’s the industry direction?

• The industry is evolving with larger sensors and higher zoom ratios, requiring solutions like ALoP to achieve better brightness and minimize camera bump size.

Differences between conventional folded zoom and ALoP?

• ALoP places lenses on top of the prism, improving design efficiency and brightness, unlike conventional zoom, where lenses are between the prism and sensor.

Conventional Folded Zoom vs Samsung ALoP (Credit – Samsung)

How does ALoP capture clear images in low light?

• ALoP uses larger lenses by positioning them horizontally, allowing more light capture, and resulting in clearer, brighter images.

Benefits of the smaller module?

• Reduces camera bump size, improving design aesthetics and space efficiency for better performance (e.g., battery life).

A key feature of ALoP?

• ALoP provides a consistent circular lens design and unique autofocus method, further reducing module height.

ALoP Telephoto unveiling at CES 2025 | Source: Samsung

Challenges during development?

• Development involved collaboration with Corephotonics, addressing component designs, autofocus methods, and optical system choices.

Future of smartphone cameras?

• Smartphone cameras will continue evolving to close the gap with DSLRs, with innovations in F/# reduction, zoom magnification, and module size.

Samsung says ALoP is a revolutionary structure that enables smaller telephoto camera modules while capturing bright and clear photos. The company will reveal the technology at the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 7 to 10.