LG Expected to Supply Face ID Technology on New iPhone X, iPad Pro, and iPhone X Plus This Year

Apple is planning a significant investment in LG Innotek to secure supply of 3D sensing modules for next-generation iPhone and iPad models expected to launch this year, according to Korean website The Investor.

face id ipad iphone

iPad Pro render by Benjamin Geskin and rough mockup of iPhone X and iPhone X Plus

The upfront payment could be worth as much as around $820.9 million, which LG Innotek would use to build additional facilities for production of 3D sensing and camera modules for mobile devices, the report claims.

The 3D sensing modules assembled by LG Innotek, including the flood illuminator and dot projector, are key components of the iPhone X's new TrueDepth camera system, enabling features such as Face ID and Animoji.

The investment would make sense given Apple plans to launch a refreshed iPhone X, a larger iPhone X Plus, and a mid-range iPhone each with Face ID later this year, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Apple will also release at least one iPad Pro model with Face ID this year, according to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg News.

The investment could help Apple avoid the temporary supply chain issues it experienced with 3D sensing modules late last year, ensuring availability of the new iPhone X, iPhone X Plus, and iPad Pro is more plentiful.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
imac video apple feature

Apple Makes Its Second-Biggest Acquisition Ever

Tuesday February 3, 2026 12:45 pm PST by
Apple recently acquired Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to Financial Times sources. That would make this Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, after it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014. This is also the largest known Apple acquisition since the company purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and patents for $1 billion in 2019....
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...

Top Rated Comments

barkomatic Avatar
106 months ago
I'm looking forward to an iPad Pro with slim bezels and Face ID!
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
H3LL5P4WN Avatar
106 months ago
All-screen 10.5" iPad Pro with Face ID?

Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Viking iSheep Avatar
106 months ago
Why would the next version not be called XI?
Because Americans don’t understand how Roman numerals work.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iapplelove Avatar
106 months ago
FaceID would make sense on the iPad in conjunction with TouchID, and ONLY provided the numerous kinks (e.g. operating on landscape mode) are fully ironed out first.
From someone with a Face ID device, I don’t think I would want both on my device. Face ID is plenty. Just make Face ID better and for iPad. Plenty.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
techwhiz Avatar
106 months ago
LG and Samsung = Android.
So while we all talk about how innovative Apple is, remember they rely on the rest of the industry to produce components.

I'm not saying it's bad, but the after being in the tech industry for 30 years, the industry is incestuous and makes strange bedfellows.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
loby Avatar
106 months ago
('https://www.macrumors.com/2018/01/09/lg-to-supply-3d-modules-iphones-ipads/')


Apple is planning a significant investment in LG Innotek to secure supply of 3D sensing modules for next-generation iPhone and iPad models expected to launch this year, according to Korean website The Investor ('http://www.theinvestor.co.kr/view.php?ud=20180109000879').


iPad Pro render by Benjamin Geskin ('https://twitter.com/venyageskin1/status/928359669525024769') and rough mockup of iPhone X and iPhone X Plus

The upfront payment could be worth as much as around $820.9 million, which LG Innotek would use to build additional facilities for production of 3D sensing and camera modules for smartphones, the report claims.

The 3D sensing modules assembled by LG Innotek, including the flood illuminator and dot projector, are key components of the iPhone X's new TrueDepth camera system, enabling features such as Face ID and Animoji.

The investment would make sense given Apple plans to launch a refreshed iPhone X, a larger iPhone X Plus, and a mid-range iPhone ('https://www.macrumors.com/2017/11/13/kuo-three-new-iphones-2018/') each with Face ID later this year, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Apple will also release at least one iPad Pro model with Face ID ('https://www.macrumors.com/2017/11/08/apple-2018-ipad-face-id/') this year, according to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg News.

The investment could help Apple avoid the temporary supply chain issues it experienced with 3D sensing modules late last year, ensuring availability of the iPhone X, iPhone X Plus, and new iPad Pro is more plentiful.

Article Link: LG Expected to Supply Face ID Technology on iPad Pro, iPhone X, and iPhone X Plus This Year ('https://www.macrumors.com/2018/01/09/lg-to-supply-3d-modules-iphones-ipads/')
Face ID...no thanks.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)