A dedicated telephoto lens (aka zoom lens) found on some iPhones boosts iPhone photography with optical zoom capabilities. Future iPhones are rumored to allow for even deeper zoom by adopting a periscope lens (or foldable lens as it's sometimes referred to). At its core, this technology diverts light through a prism and into a telephoto lens set at a ninety-degree angle to a rear-facing lens and buried deep inside the chassis.
Periscope aka folded lens: What it is, how it works and why it’ll boost iPhone photography