iPhone 15 Pro: Apple will improve LiDAR and change supplier

The iPhone 15 Pro LiDAR scanner will undergo an evolution according to information from Ming-Chi Kuo. The analyst announcement also that Apple will change supplier, putting aside Lumentum and Win Semi, and turning to Sony.

Sony’s time-of-flight VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser Diode) consumes less power than those of Apple’s current suppliers. The LiDAR scanner will therefore be more power efficient on the iPhone 15 Pro, which Kuo says could either contribute to greater overall battery life or allow the LiDAR scanner to deliver improved performance at the same level of power consumption. than on existing iPhones.

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Sony will replace Lumentum (design) / Win Semi (production) as the exclusive ToF VCSEL supplier for iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Lumentum/Win Semi will face long-term structural risks in the VCSEL market.

— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) February 24, 2023

The improved LiDAR scanner could benefit camera features in the new iPhones Apple will launch this year, such as night mode and autofocus, as well as augmented reality uses.

As a reminder, the LiDAR scanner debuted at Apple with the iPhone 12 Pro in 2020. It can measure light distance and capture depth information.