Roger Fingas
Apple could begin trial production of its 2018 iPhones as soon as next quarter, seeking to avoid the production problems with TrueDepth cameras thought to have pushed the iPhone X's launch into last November, a report claimed on Thursday.
If Apple does start trial production in the next three months, it should help advance the launch dates for the phones, sources with Taiwanese IC (integrated circuit) design firms told DigiTimes. Trial production occurs on a small scale, intended to work out any yield problems before mass production.
Prior to the iPhone X's launch, multiple reports indicated that suppliers were having trouble manufacturing the phone's 3D-sensing TrueDepth camera. Specifically the issue was said to be the camera's dot projector, then nicknamed "Romeo."
The dot projector is perhaps the most vital part of the camera, casting over 30,000 invisible dots on a person's face in order to generate a depth map. Misalignment or failure of the dots can throw off results.
Apple is believed to be working on three new iPhone's for this fall, all of them equipped with TrueDepth. While one should use a 5.8-inch OLED display like the iPhone X, another should have a 6.5-inch OLED panel. Finally, a 6.1-inch LCD phone could provide a less costly alternative for the masses.
The next devices to get TrueDepth cameras should actually be updated iPads, which could be announced at a March 27 press event.
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
8 Comments
DigiTimes. Nuff said.
Would love a moved up launch date.
IF true (and it is Digitimes) I'd be a bit disappointed. I don't want a phone that big. Over six inch is not a phone, it's an iPad and I already have one of those. I would love to be able to get FaceID, but not if it means talking into a dinner platter when I take a call. Okay, maybe the SE won't get it any time soon. Fine, but what about the regular sized iPhone? I could move up to that if it got me FaceID. But I don't like a phablet. I don't like talking on it. I don't like carrying it around. Oh well, I'm not due to replace my SE for another year or two anyway.
Wondering if they'll release all new models in September, or will they wait till November like they did with the X.