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

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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
Tags: LG, Face ID, TrueDepth
Buyer's Guide: 11" iPad Pro (Buy Now), 12.9" iPad Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forums: iPad, iPhone

Top Rated Comments

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

Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Viking iSheep Avatar
Viking iSheep
46 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
iapplelove
46 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
techwhiz
46 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
loby
46 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)
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