"A lense that changes shape rather than position?"
It's very difficult to modify a lens shape and keep it within the required parameters to deliver good enough image quality. Even more so in phone lenses which are very small and with very short focal lenses. And, like folding phones, it must not break after many bends. And there could be more than one lens needing to change shape in a zoom.
There are experiments with different flexible materials - but AFAIK none is usable in production. Maybe in future it will be possible.
Telescopes do have flexible mirrors that can change shape, but first it's easier to install actuators on the non-reflecting surface, second they don't have to perform large modification, AFAIK it's used only to correct for deviations from the required shape and to counteract atmospheric turbulence.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
