Roger Fingas
This fall's next flagship iPhone may come equipped with a triple-lens camera on the rear, according to a render said to be based on an early development leak.
All of Apple's 2019 iPhones are still in the engineering validation testing (EVT) phase, and so specifications could shift, cautioned Digit.in and well-known leak source OnLeaks. The company is thought to be targeting a September launch, as usual.
No concrete reason for a triple-lens design was mentioned, but it's speculated that the feature aligns with reports Apple is pursuing a "time of flight" (TOF) system. This would allow depth maps based on the time it takes light to bounce back to a sensor, much like radar or sonar.
The front-facing TrueDepth camera on the iPhone X, XS, and XR is dependent on a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser, or VCSEL, which projects a grid of dots on a person's face. The technology is impractical for long distances though, and TOF can be more accurate.
Depth maps from rear-facing cameras could expand the possibilities for augmented reality on iPhones and make autofocus shooting faster and more precise.
Cosmetically the OnLeaks render is likely not representative of Apple's ultimate plans, as the company prefers streamlined looks whenever possible. Additionally, it seems unlikely that Apple would sacrifice the internal volume where the third lens is located.
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
Malcolm Owen
30 Comments
Pretty.
If real, that thing better take some pretty damn good pictures.
It is safe to assume this can be true based on phone industry moving toward multiple cameras system on back. This means for 2019, what iPhone XS/MAX have will move to XR including dual cameras.
What are they selling iPhone or cameras I only start to imagine The price of this new iPhone.
That's a huge camera bump. Looks like a tumor
That's some jacked up placement for the lenses and flash, no way it's going to look like that. It'd be cool if they could make it across the top in a way that the phone would sit flat but up at an angle ever so slightly to help Face ID out a bit when sitting on a table.