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Apple's Upgraded TrueDepth Camera System in Future iPhones Will Necessitate Larger Batteries

Thursday December 21, 2017 5:47 am PST by Joe Rossignol

iPhone models released in 2019 and later will likely feature an upgraded TrueDepth camera system that will consume more power, resulting in a need for larger-capacity batteries, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

In a research note obtained by MacRumors, Kuo said Apple has technologies at its disposal to develop larger-capacity batteries.

Apple capable of designing new system for large-capacity batteries: We believe the adoption of TrueDepth camera for 3D sensing in 2017-18 will create demand for larger-capacity batteries. From 2019, we predict iPhone may adopt upgraded 3D-sensing and AR-related functions, and it will consume more power, further increasing demand for large-capacity batteries. We believe Apple's key technologies, including semiconductor manufacturing processes, system-in-package (SIP), and substrate-like PCB (SLP), will create the required space for larger batteries.

Kuo unsurprisingly expects Apple will use these technologies to continue increasing iPhone battery capacities in 2019 and 2020, as it routinely does, which should result in even longer battery life for future models.

Kuo reiterated that TrueDepth will be expanded to a trio of iPhone models next year, including a new 5.8-inch iPhone X, a larger 6.5-inch model we're calling iPhone X Plus, and a new 6.1-inch mid-range model with an LCD display, but it sounds like the facial system will remain unchanged in 2018.

As far as next year is concerned, Kuo previously said the second-generation iPhone X could have a one-cell L-shaped battery that would provide up to 10 percent additional capacity compared to the two-cell battery in the current iPhone X, which of course could result in slightly longer battery life.

He added that next year's so-called "iPhone X Plus" is likely to retain a two-cell battery design, but the larger size of the 6.5-inch device will still allow it to have a higher capacity in the range of 3,300 to 3,400 mAh.

Apple is expected to release the new iPhone X and iPhone X Plus in its usual timeframe of September to October next year.

Related Roundup: 2018 iPhones

Tags: KGI Securities, Ming-Chi Kuo, TrueDepth

Top Rated Comments

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otternonsense

26 weeks ago

It's not the only thing that will necessitate larger batteries, given the iPhone CPU throttling "for battery reasons" nonsense.

Rating: 22 Votes

macsrcool1234

26 weeks ago

they'll still throttle themselves after a short time

Rating: 13 Votes

HacKage

26 weeks ago

If they already need to throttle 1 year old devices to keep battery life at a reasonable level, I don't hold much confidence for future models. Until they changes their way of thinking that a slow phone is better than one with poor battery life, I won't be spending £1000+ on something that in a year may only have 30-50% of the performance it has new.

Rating: 11 Votes

SoApple

26 weeks ago

Please no $1500 iphone X+ This is getting insane

Rating: 7 Votes

Secondempire

26 weeks ago

We need newer/better battery technology.

We need a fatter iPhone.

Rating: 7 Votes

barkomatic

26 weeks ago

It's crazy that there are rumors of the 2019 iPhone X that I will likely purchase that year to replace my iPhone X that is not even two months old.

Since it's confirmed Apple slows down old iPhone due to battery wear -- and since you can't pay them to replace a degraded battery unless they consider defective I guess I'll be paying in 2019 unless I try another Android phone.

Rating: 5 Votes