iPhone XI Rumors Claim Sony 3D Cameras to be Used

A new iPhone rumor is making the rounds, and this one claims that when the 2019 iPhone models land next year, they will be packing a fancy new Sony camera sensor inside. Apple and Sony are said to be working together to integrated long distance 3D cameras into the next-generation iPhone.

Forbes reports that the technology in the Sony 3D camera sensors will be transformative for mobile gaming, photography, and security. According to a Sony exec, rear-facing 3D camera sensors will be ready in 2019 with mass production kicking off this summer.

These new Sony camera sensors use tech called “Time of Flight” that was used only in industry in the past. This tech shoots out invisible laser pulses and measures how long it takes them to return. That allows the camera to build detailed 3D models of objects, including faces, that are up to 5 meters away.

One of the more exciting things about this tech is that it can track objects in the dark and can bring parts of an image into focus almost instantaneously. The thought is that the sensor could cut down on some of the multiple sensors currently needed for Apple Face ID and possibly allow the notch to die off.