2018 iPhones Confirmed To Have TrueDepth Camera By Apple Supplier’s Anticipated Orders

Apple isn’t unveiling its three new iPhones until this coming September, but more and more details about the handsets are being leaked every so often. The latest of which seems to be the confirmation everyone’s been waiting for about the new iPhones possibly sporting Apple’s advanced TrueDepth camera system.

Apple parts supplier Lumentum is known for producing the vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) modules that power up the TrueDepth camera systems for iPhones. The company is said to be expecting improved results for the next quarters and it is also anticipating volume orders of the component from Apple.

At present, the only commercially available iPhone with the TrueDepth camera system is the iPhone X. But given the imminent launch of the next-generation iOS smartphones, it’s safe to surmise that the volume orders of the camera systems will be for the upcoming iPhones, AppleInsider reported Wednesday citing unnamed sources.

In its latest report, Lumentum notes that it is ramping up production and shipment of the 3D sensing component to key customers. It is also expecting more orders over the coming two quarters. All these reportedly bode well for Apple’s product pipeline, according to analyst Gene Munster of Loup Ventures.

Munster claims that the ramp in VCSEL arrays and the accelerated order volume strongly suggest that Apple is incorporating TrueDepth camera systems into all of its new iPhones this year. “Given the sooner than expected ramp in VCSEL arrays, we believe this fall, Apple will have 3 iPhone models with the VCSEL laser,” Munster said.

The Cupertino giant is widely rumored to introduce three new iPhone models this year. Aside from the direct successor to the iPhone X that will also come with a 5.8-inch OLED screen, there will be two new models. There’s going to be a larger 6.5-inch OLED variant and a mid-range model with a 6.1-inch LCD display.

Analysts and industry sources have been claiming since early this year that all three iPhones will adopt the notch design of the iPhone X to accommodate the TrueDepth camera that is responsible for Apple’s advanced 3D facial recognition technology.

There are also reports saying Apple is looking to bring the TrueDepth camera system to its iPad tablets. Munster agrees with this idea, which is very plausible considering that Apple is ditching Touch ID for Face ID. Moreover, there are hints about iPad devices with Face ID in iOS 12’s beta version.