LG Innotek reportedly supplying facial recognition cameras for Apple's 'iPhone 8'

LG Innotek is supplying facial recognition camera modules for Apple's "iPhone 8," according to reports out of South Korea, using a new facility dedicated to Apple products.

The factory, announced on April 27, is worth about $238.5 million, the Korea Economic Daily said on Thursday, cited by The Investor. The value of Apple's initial order is estimated around $177 million.

LG Innotek already supplies rear-facing, dual-lens camera modules for the iPhone 7 Plus, but the new factory was reportedly needed because the facial recognition modules will be both smaller and front-facing.

The "iPhone 8" will use a 3D version of facial recognition, The Investor said, offering better accuracy than phones like the Samsung Galaxy S8, which use 2D technology.

3D facial recognition has long been rumored for the new iPhone, which could ship in October if not later. Its main feature is expected to be an 5.8-inch edge-to-edge OLED screen, swapping a physical home button for a virtual one.

Because Apple has allegedly had trouble merging a Touch ID sensor into the screen, some earlier rumors hinted that Apple might rely entirely on eye-based biometrics. Those have largely faded, although the company may still be planning to support iris scanning.

LG Innotek is likely on the verge of shipping its first sensors if it isn't already, as other "iPhone 8" parts suppliers like TSMC are believed to be ramping up production.

7 Comments

robin huber 4025 comments · 22 Years

About 7 years ago

Sure would be nice if Apple could buy more of its premiere feature components from someone other than competitors. Guarantees leaks and theft of intellectual property, two of Apple's biggest bugaboos.

lkrupp 10521 comments · 19 Years

robin huber said:

Sure would be nice if Apple could buy more of its premiere feature components from someone other than competitors. Guarantees leaks and theft of intellectual property, two of Apple's biggest bugaboos.

Well maybe that’s why Apple is starting to get into designing its own chips and such. Meanwhile, like Samsung, LG is a component manufacturer as well as a product manufacturer.

applesauce007 1702 comments · 17 Years

robin huber said:

Sure would be nice if Apple could buy more of its premiere feature components from someone other than competitors. Guarantees leaks and theft of intellectual property, two of Apple's biggest bugaboos.

I believe that LG has actually licensed phone IP from Apple including UI design patents.

Metriacanthosaurus 880 comments · 8 Years

AppleInsider said:

Because Apple has allegedly had trouble merging a Touch ID sensor into the screen, some earlier rumors hinted that Apple might rely entirely on eye-based biometrics. Those have largely faded, although the company may still be planning to support iris scanning.

I sure do wish people would stop repeating these "alleged troubles with Touch ID". They did not come from a reliable source. They are worse than the annual "supply chain production difficulties" nonsense.

Not only will Apple not be relying entirely on eye-based biometrics, they won't be using it at all, in a security/authentication context. This is entirely for other camera-related features.

gatorguy 24609 comments · 13 Years

applesauce007 said:

robin huber said:

Sure would be nice if Apple could buy more of its premiere feature components from someone other than competitors. Guarantees leaks and theft of intellectual property, two of Apple's biggest bugaboos.

I believe that LG has actually licensed phone IP from Apple including UI design patents.

...And Apple has taken a license to some of LG's patents. The war that some seem to think is going on (or wish for) really isn't. All the big techs need each other. None can have success in a vacuum, not even all-powerful Apple.