Apple to Introduce New Sensor Technology in 2027 iPhone

Apple plans to integrate a new camera technology into its iPhone lineup in 2027. The company’s Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor (LOFIC) sensor structure is intended to offer a significant improvement in iPhone camera performance, enabling the capture of both bright and dark areas with high detail within a single frame.

According to sources, Apple’s planned 20th-anniversary iPhone model will feature the company’s proprietary image sensor. LOFIC technology allows each pixel to store varying amounts of light based on the scene’s brightness, preserving details in both bright and shadowed areas. This system is reported to offer up to 20 stops of dynamic range, approaching the performance of high-end cinema cameras and nearing the dynamic range of human vision.

Chinese manufacturers Honor, Xiaomi, and Huawei intend to incorporate LOFIC technology with Sony sensors in their flagship models in 2026. Oppo and Vivo are also preparing to release LOFIC-supported models in the same year. Apple’s implementation of the technology is currently scheduled for 2027.

Apple first detailed the LOFIC sensor system in a patent published in July. The patent describes a two-layered sensor design featuring a specialized light-capturing layer and a processing layer for real-time noise reduction. The company is reportedly developing and testing a working prototype on development hardware.

Currently, iPhone models utilize sensors manufactured by Sony, which also employ a two-layered structure. However, Apple’s design is claimed to be more compact and incorporates further innovations, potentially enabling higher performance within a thinner form factor. Apple’s planned 20th-anniversary iPhone is expected to feature a bezel-less, four-sided curved display design.

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