Looks like iPhone 12 Pro models will come with a LiDAR sensor. A picture of the highly awaited phone has been leaked indicating that the camera may be updated with a LiDAR sensor.
Rumors have it that the new iPhone 12 Pro models will come fitted with a LiDAR sensor on the rear camera.
Some more photos have emerged recently confirming this. The sensor is expected to be fitted on iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
The soon to be predecessors, iPhone 11 Pro max and iPhone 11 Pro have three cameras on the rear. The cameras come packed with an ultra-wide-angle sensor and a telephoto lens.
The three rear cameras seems will be maintained on the iPhone 12 Pro models only with an addition of a LiDAR sensor. Similar sensors have been fitted in the latest version of iPad Pro.
Leaked: iPhone 12 Pro models will come equipped with an upgraded camera
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A Reddit user, over the weekend, allegedly posted a photo of an iPhone 12 Pro Max case. On the photo, the back of the case had three standard holes for the primary, ultra-wide, and telephoto lenses. But strangely, there was an additional pinpoint hole, the size of a microphone hole. This leaves two other holes, one for the flash and the other for the new LiDAR sensor.
The post seems to have come from a real McCoy iPhone cases vendors, but of cause, this cannot be confirmed immediately since the specific account has no track record of sharing trusted leaks.
However, the images are consistent with the previous leaks, which showed what Apple could do with the camera setup of the iPhone 12 Pro. In fact, a leak from early this month contained both the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Max with drawings of the structure of the lens. It is very close to what the picture from Reddit revealed, albeit with the microphone on different positions.
Why Should iPhone 12 Pro Models come with LiDAR? Is it necessary?
A LiDAR sensor on iPhone 12 could measure distances faster and more precisely that you usually see from a time-of-flight sensor. It would definitely boost portrait shorts taken on the iPhone 12 Pro models. Additionally, the phones would benefit from augmented reality applications that rely on distance between objects.
It is not just speculations. iOS 14, currently in the testing stage features ARKit 4, a new too for creating AR apps. ARKit 4 comes equipped with Delphi API which allows instance placement of virtual objects and occluded of objects, thanks to the precision of the LiDAR sensor.
iPad Pro has this feature, but an iPhone with similar LiDAR sensor will be a game changer in the VR wars of the major phone manufacturers.
If the Reddit leaks are anything to go by, Apple should probably say something about the LiDAR on the launch of the phone. The launch date for the iPhone 12 Pro models is expected to be sometime next month (September 2020). But the phones will be delivered later in the fall.
