iPhone 13 to come with a smaller notch, ToF LiDAR sensors

Apple launched the iPhone 12 series consisting of the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max earlier this year. Of these, only the iPhone 12 Pro and the iPhone 12 Pro Max came with LiDAR sensors. But that might change with the iPhone 13 series that will be launched in 2021.

As per a Digitimes report (via GizChina), unlike the iPhone 12 series, all the phones in the iPhone 13 series are expected to be equipped with LiDAR sensors. The iPhone 13 series is tipped to get Direct Time-of-Flight (D-ToF) technology. These sensors will be provided by a US-based company called II-VI, which will be entering Apple’s supply chain for its next-generation iPhone models. As per the report, the firm will manufacture VCSEL chips that will be used in ToF LiDAR sensors for Apple.

The report also claims that the rear-camera setup of the iPhone 13 will be slightly different from its 2020 counterpart as it is likely to have more number of holes. While the number of lenses could remain the same, the number of sensors is likely to increase. The overall effect of this change would be that the iPhone 13 will come with a better 3D sensing module.

Furthermore, the report states that Apple would streamline VCSEL chip in the front camera setup and that the phone’s 3D sensing capabilities could improve dramatically, which includes reducing the volume of the structured light 3D sensing module, that is, the notch.

Lastly, the report quoting Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis, Tim Long and Thomas O’Malley said that the iPhone 13 series is also tipped to get Wi-Fi 6E, which will not only provide the features and functionalities of Wi-Fi 6 while extending to the 6GHz frequency band. The report says that it will provide higher bandwidth with less interference for the Wi-Fi 6E-enabled devices.