Apple is working with LG on a new dual camera module capable of 3D photography effects for potential use in its 10th anniversary iPhone, according to a brief report in The Korea Economic Daily.

The article is short on details, but states that the "LG Innotek" dual-lens camera will likely be used in Apple's new products in the latter half of 2017.

iphone_7_plus_dual_camera

Sources close to the situation said, "Apple is now studying how to apply its 3D camera technology into LG Innotek's smartphone camera," adding, "Since LG Innotek also has its own 3D camera and related technologies, such joint efforts will likely to bear fruit sometime within next year."

The article mentions the LinX Imaging company Apple bought last year. In acquiring the Israeli startup, Apple took ownership of LinX's enhanced camera technology, which included 3D depth mapping and lighting enhancements, likely used to create features such as Portrait Mode seen in the iPhone 7.

It's unclear what other "3D photographing" features the sources are referring to that would be hardware-based, although Apple does own old patents for face and biometric recognition. Otherwise, Apple has patented inventions in the past for high-end image analysis techniques such as object recognition, but these largely rely on software. Apple is also said to have a team of people working on integrating augmented reality functionality into the iPhone's camera app.

Apple has a major iPhone redesign planned for 2017, with a glass body and edge-to-edge OLED display that includes an integrated Touch ID fingerprint sensor, front-facing camera. The new iPhone may be sold alongside upgraded (but standard) 4.7 and 5.5-inch iPhones, and could potentially feature wireless charging.

Tag: LG
Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

JaySoul Avatar
104 months ago
I'm ugly enough in 2D, got no chance in 3D.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LordQ Avatar
104 months ago
What's the bet this is exclusive for the OLED Plus.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
twinlight Avatar
104 months ago
This is a step towards AR. If the phone can see the world in 3D and map the environment, it can do some awesome augmented reality applications.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kognito Avatar
104 months ago
Yeah! Then we'll be able to create our own 3D content for all those 3D TVs that they don't sell any more.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Nr123*123 Avatar
104 months ago
All this technology...that will mostly be used for instagram photos of generic food.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Billsofat Avatar
104 months ago
iPhone 3DS

But seriously...what a gimmick to bump up the OLED price.

Also, if they got rid of the camera bump, imagine the battery life increase iPhones could get, along with other hardware. Remember how they said that phones are a fight for space inside? Yeah, you started that fight for yourself, Apple.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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