The iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max are rumored to be in the pipeline for Apple with a light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor. This new sensor will sit with a triple rear camera setup that is likely to include wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle, and telephoto shooters. A rough sketch has surfaced online, showing the back of the discontinued iPhone 12 Pro. It is said to have been sourced from iOS 14, the software version that will come as an update to the current iOS 13.
This sketch posted on Instagram by an account concept phone is being described as iPhone 12 Pro. It shows a quad rear camera setup on the iPhone, along with an LED flash module sitting in the middle of four sensors. While the three sensors on the leaked image are for visible photography, the fourth one is the LiDAR sensor, as reported by a Twitter user who goes by the pseudo username @choco_bit.
Apple may offer new Augmented Reality (AR) experiences to use the LiDAR sensor on the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. This would be similar to how the company has the iPad Pro 2020 model that is also planning to explore new avenues with a LiDAR sensor with two different camera sensors.
A LiDAR sensor is used to measure distances to the surroundings using laser light. This can be useful for creating AR models and enabling 3D sensing on newer iPhone models.
Some reports in the past have suggested that the iPhone 12 Pro model will debut this year with a new depth sensor. However, instead of offering a conventional depth sensor, Apple may plan to bring its latest iPhone model with a LiDAR sensor.
Apple is rumored to have built new AR features that would be a part of the Find My and Apple Maps apps. These new offerings are likely to be a part of the iOS 14 release that would come preloaded on the iPhone 12 models. To expand its AR developments, the company is also rumored to have its AR glasses in the works that would debut sometime in 2022.
In addition to the LiDAR sensor, the iPhone 12 models could include large image sensors for capturing additional light and add a sensor-shift image stabilization.
Apple generally hosts its new iPhone launch event in September. However, there could be some delay this year due to the coronavirus outbreak.
In the meantime, it is safe to expect recent reports and rumors suggesting what we would get on the new iPhone models.
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