Two Upcoming 2020 iPhones to Feature Time-of-Flight 3D Sensing Rear Cameras

[MacRumors]

Two of the iPhones set to be released in 2020 will feature 3D sensing rear camera setups with time-of-flight (ToF) camera lenses, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who shared the info in a note to investors that was obtained by MacRumors.

A time-of-flight camera system measures the time that it takes for a laser or LED to bounce off of objects in a room, providing an accurate 3D map of the surroundings.

All three of the new iPhones are also expected to feature a front-facing camera system with Face ID, which deviates a bit from some rumors that have suggested an under-display fingerprint sensor could be coming to some 2020 iPhone models.

We predict that three new 2H20 iPhone models will all be equipped with front Face ID, and two of the new models will provide rear ToF. We estimate that shipments of iPhone models equipped with front and rear VCSEL (front structure light and rear ToF) will be 45mn units in 2020.

We've previously heard multiple rumors suggesting a time-of-flight camera system for the 2020 iPhones, including info from Kuo himself, but this is the first time that he's specified that he expects the 3D sensing camera system to be available in just two of the three upcoming 2020 iPhones.

Kuo goes on to say that a rear time-of-flight camera would bolster photo quality and offer new and improved AR applications. Apple and Huawei are believed to be the "most aggressive brand vendors" supporting 5G and ToF in 2020.

The current 3D sensing capabilities used in the front-facing TrueDepth camera system rely on infrared cameras and a dot projector to create a 3D image, but ToF systems use lasers technology, calculating the time it takes for a laser to bounce off of surrounding objects to create a 3D image of what's around you. ToF offers up more accurate depth perception, resulting in better placement of virtual objects, and it should offer up improved images thanks to the more advanced depth information.

Previous rumors from Bloomberg have suggested that the rear camera in Apple's 2020 iPhones, which will use use VCSEL (vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser) technology, will be able to scan objects up to 15 feet away, mapping out wide areas. Face ID currently works at about 25 to 50 centimeters away.

Kuo said in a prior investor's note that implementing ToF would require 5G connectivity because Apple would want to use the feature to create a "revolutionary AR experience." All 2020 iPhones are expected to feature 5G chips.

Rumors suggest Apple is planning to release three iPhones in 2020, but in new sizes. Apple is said to be working on 5.4 and 6.7-inch high-end iPhones with OLED displays, which would presumably be the devices to adopt the 3D-capable rear camera systems, and a lower-cost 6.1-inch model with an OLED display.

More information on what to expect in the 2020 iPhones can be found in the dedicated what's next section of our 2019 iPhone roundup.

Article Link: Two Upcoming 2020 iPhones to Feature Time-of-Flight 3D Sensing Rear Cameras

 

[AyeKay15]

At this point, no reason to get the 2019 iPhones when Apple is going all in with the 2020 iPhones

 

[cmaier]

Should make focussing much better

 

[sniffies]

Might as well cancel iPhone 2019

 

[itsmilo]

Cool. Can we finally get wide lenses tho.

 

[yossi]

I wish this would have explained what Time of Flight means

 

[cmaier]

Cool. Can we finally get wide lenses tho.

2019 will have a wide lens

 

[TantalizedMind]

At this point, no reason to get the 2019 iPhones when Apple is going all in with the 2020 iPhones

Don’t bother. I heard to 2021 iPhones are were it’s at.

 

[ondert]

Did you recognize how bad the 2019 models are going to be? There are much more rumors for the 2020 models than the 2019 ones.

 

[Nimoy]

It must just KILL Apple that these juicy 2020 iPhone rumours are coming out a month before the 2019 launch.

 

[iPhysicist]

If Kuo says so Apple is obligated to follow his report. It’s Kuo!!!

 

[TantalizedMind]

I wish this would have explained what Time of Flight means

Would’ve been helpful. Idk what it either but could really care less.

 

[DrJohnnyN]

Poop brown color.

 

[JPack]

It's about time, Apple.

Everybody has a ToF sensor these days.

 

[cmaier]

I wish this would have explained what Time of Flight means

You shine a laser out of the phone and time how fast it bounces back. The camera can thus easily build up a 3-d understanding of how far everything is in front of it. Allows easy capture of 3-d models ,but also provides useful information about what to focus on and how to focus.

 

[s54]

So it looks like the 2020 iPhones will still have Face ID with a notch. So much for everyone ditching the 2019 and waiting for the 2020. Looks like they'll be waiting for the 2021+ LMAO

 

[JPack]

I wish this would have explained what Time of Flight means

Just look at the reviews for P30 Pro.

Plenty of explanations in those articles.

 

[coolfactor]

Face ID will never be removed, as the 3D camera is now needed for features like Animoji and AR capabilities that are becoming mainstream. I'd be shocked if they removed the 3D camera. They'll just find a way to make it smaller and more hidden.

 

[pika2000]

Recent phone with ToF sensor is the Huawei P30 Pro, and then hardly anyone even talked about that sensor in reviews. So I’m not sure the big practical use of it. Obviously Apple is going to use it for AR. But as a consumer, I don’t feel it’s a huge enough feature for me to wait for.

 

[TonyC28]

Can Kuo tell me what's coming in 2021? I'm already thinking about skipping 2019. Should I skip 2020 as well?

 

[PastaPrimav]

There comes a point where you cannot keep making improvements to the camera without making the lens bigger.

That point has come for Apple, and their answer is instead to add more gimmicks and more lenses.

With the amount of space Apple is clearly willing to occupy on the back of the phone, we could have 1 giant lens that instantly improves upon the photo quality by leaps. We could even have 1 large retractable lens and then suddenly iPhone, for all its innovation and popularity in photography, would finally be better than a $100 Point-and-shoot digital camera.

Just imagine if we had that. Combine a real lens with all of Apple's amazing ISP and neural engine tech and we'd really have something worth talking about.

 

[Motawa]

what is a time of flight lense though?

 

[coolfactor]

It’s hilarious and ridiculous how all the iPhone rumors are about iPhone 2020. Hardly anything about 2019. It’s as if Apple have given up on this year’s release and are just focusing on 2020.

The latest generation of phones are already faster and more powerful than any of us truly need, so what "upgrades" are needed now? Yes, we'll get 2019 iPhones, but honestly, don't expect anything groundbreaking this year.
[doublepost=1564421504][/doublepost]

There comes a point where you cannot keep making improvements to the camera without making the lens bigger.

That point has come for Apple, and their answer is instead to add more gimmicks and more lenses.

With the amount of space Apple is clearly willing to occupy on the back of the phone, we could have 1 giant lens that instantly improves upon the photo quality by leaps. We could even have 1 large retractable lens and then suddenly iPhone, for all its innovation and popularity in photography, would finally be better than a $100 Point-and-shoot digital camera.

Just imagine if we had that. Combine a real lens with all of Apple's amazing ISP and neural engine tech and we'd really have something worth talking about.

Multiple lens are more powerful than one giant lens. That's why we have two eyes instead of one, and why a bee has a thousand "eyes". The brain can combine multiple images together and get more detail that a single lens could capture alone.

 

[xgman]

What do we care what 2020 phones will feature a year + out? This tells me that the 2019 iphones much be pretty boring.

 

[shanson27]

Is now Apple copying android feature ?