Apple to Update iPhone With Triple-Lens Camera This Year, Rear-Facing 3D Camera Next Year [Report]

Apple is planning to update its iPhone with a triple-lens camera this year and a rear-facing 3D camera in 2020, according to a new Bloomberg report.

The third lens will be used to capture a larger field of view and enable a wider range of zoom. Sources tell the site that it's possible that Apple could use the additional pixels to introduce a feature that would automatically fit in a subject that was initially cut off.

Apple is also said to be planning an enhanced version of Live Photos that will double the length of video captured around a photo from three seconds to six seconds.


It's believed that Apple still plans to release three iPhones this year including an update to the iPhone XR and successors to the iPhone XS and XS Max, codenamed D42 and D43. Initially, only the larger D43 model will gain the triple-lens camera but eventually the camera could make its way to other models.

For next year, Apple is purportedly preparing a 3D camera that will be able to scan the environment. It will work to about 15 feet from the phone, much further than the 25-50 cms at which the current True Depth camera operates.

Apple’s new system uses a laser scanner, rather than the existing dot-projection technology which doesn’t work as well over longer distances, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing unreleased features. That’s just one of many new features -- including a third, more advanced camera, enhanced photo-capture tools and a more powerful chip -- that Apple plans to include in coming generations of iPhones, the people said.

The camera would be used for augmented reality and would help improve depth capture when taking photos. Apple has reportedly been in talks with Sony to test sensors for the new system.


It's believed that the 2020 iPhone could be a prelude to the rumored AR headset that Apple has in development.

More details in the full report linked below...

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