Apple's Supply of iPhone X TrueDepth Camera Components For Face ID Is Now Stable Says Analyst
One of the biggest factors that has led to alleged issues with iPhone X production is said to be a shortage of functional TrueDepth camera components, which are used for Face ID. At one point in the production of the camera hardware, it was said that only 20% of the dot projectors, a critical component for Face ID, were functional. According to Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities, those production issues have now been resolved.
Kuo says that Apple "won't repeat" the supply and production issues with the 2018 iPhone models that it has faced with the iPhone X. Rumors have suggested that the Touch ID fingerprint sensor currently used on most iPhone models will be eliminated in the next generation with all devices going to Face ID instead. Even iPad models are tipped to gain Face ID functionality.
"We believe the supply of both components are now stable, leaving no need to switch to other solutions," Kuo writes.
Kuo also states that he expects "no major spec upgrade" for the TrueDepth camera that powers Face ID biometric technology next year. The analyst says that Apple will use the same dot projector and infrared camera tech on the 2018 iPhone models. Kuo is contradicting other rumors that have claimed Apple will be adopting a "hybrid lens (glass and plastics)." Kuo writes that moving to that new lens technology would lead to supply chain issues and delay the introduction of 2018 iPhone models.
Kuo believes that Face ID will be a major selling point for the iPhone line as it will take a long time for Android competitors to catch up. Kuo also believes that making a fingerprint scanner work under glass would be too expensive, despite efforts by Qualcomm to bring this tech to Android smartphones.
