If there is something in which Apple has become a specialist, it is in developing great cameras for its mobile phones. Now, just a few minutes ago, it was discovered what would be the great change that the iPhone 15 series smartphones would integrate, although we assume that this novelty will only be found in the Pro models.
After some information about it leaked a couple of weeks ago, it is once again rumored that Apple’s next-generation iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature a LiDAR scanner with enhanced laser technology, supplied by Sony.
In a research note shared with investors this week, Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis and Tom O’Malley said Sony could supply most, if not all, of the components of the new LiDAR scanner that we’ll find on iPhone 15 models. Pro which will be released later this year.
Sony could build on most, if not most, of the sensor seen in this year’s models, providing a module, VCSEL, receiver, and controller.
The report provided no clues as to how the iPhone maker will adopt the LiDAR sensor for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus . If this were to come to fruition, the lower-end cameras would only get a possible 48 MP rear camera which loses out on the laser-based feature that its bigger brothers would.
LiDAR sensor operation
LiDAR , on paper, refers to light detection and ranging, and is a technology that has been used in a variety of fields, such as mapping, archeology, and robotics. The LiDAR sensor on iPhone is a depth sensor that uses lasers to measure the distance between the sensor and objects in its environment.
In the case of the phones from the Cupertino firm, this sensor is located in the rear camera of the device and works by emitting a beam of infrared light towards the object being scanned. The light bounces off the object and returns to the sensor , where the time it took for the light to return is measured. From this time, the sensor can calculate the distance between the object and the sensor. In this way, you can take better quality portrait photos, perfectly blurring the background of a photo to create an effect of depth.
But it is also used in augmented reality applications to allow virtual objects to be better integrated into the real environment.
Changes in this camera
This hardware is now expected to remain exclusive to iPhone 15 Pro models after first appearing on the firm’s phones alongside the iPhone 12 Pro. An improved LiDAR scanner could be beneficial for augmented reality applications, making better photos in night mode and auto focus of the camera.
It is not possible to know, at this point, if these improvements would be minimal or would offer a devastating change compared to the photos captured by the current iPhone 14 Pro , so we have to wait until September to check it.