Phone 15 Series Integrated Proximity Sensor
Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 Series is expected to carry forward design element called the “Dynamic Island,” which will feature a pill-shaped opening for the front-facing camera and other important sensors.
This design is expected to be adopted across all iPhone 15 models, including the standard versions. However, one notable difference from the iPhone 14 Pro is the placement of the proximity sensor.
According to Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known Apple analyst, the iPhone 15 series will feature an integrated proximity sensor within the Dynamic Island. This change will replace the iPhone 14 Pro’s proximity sensor location, which was under the screen but outside of Dynamic Island.
What is the Dynamic Island?
Before diving into the changes in the proximity sensor, let’s first understand the concept of a Dynamic Island. The Dynamic Island is essentially a small pill-shaped area on the front of the iPhone that houses the front-facing camera and other important sensors and shows interactive notifications around it. This area was first introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro series, and it is expected to be carried over to the iPhone 15 series.
Changes to the Proximity Sensor
As mentioned earlier, the proximity sensor in the iPhone 14 Pro was located under the screen but outside of Dynamic Island. However, the iPhone 15 series will feature an integrated proximity sensor within the Dynamic Island, with almost no change to the Dynamic Island area. This means that the pill-shaped opening for the front-facing camera and other sensors will remain the same size, even with the addition of the proximity sensor.
What is a Proximity Sensor?
A proximity sensor is a sensor that detects the presence of an object or person close to the device. In smartphones, this sensor is typically used to turn off the screen during a call when the phone is held up to the user’s ear. It can also be used to enable automatic screen rotation and adjust the screen brightness based on ambient light conditions.
Epi-Wafer Supplier Change
With the change in proximity sensor location, the epi-wafer supplier for the iPhone 15 series will also transition from Landmark to IQE. An epi-wafer is a semiconductor wafer that is used to make electronic components such as LEDs and sensors. In this case, the epi-wafer is used to make the proximity sensor.
According to Kuo, IQE will replace Landmark as the exclusive supplier of epi-wafer for proximity sensors in the iPhone 15 series. This change is expected to enable Finisar, which was acquired by Coherent/II-VI, to shift to offering 940nm wavelength proximity sensors, compared to the 1380nm wavelength sensors used in the iPhone 14 Pro.
What Does This Mean for iPhone Users?
The integration of the proximity sensor within the Dynamic Island area is not expected to have a significant impact on the user experience. However, it is a notable design change that will further enhance the aesthetics of the iPhone 15 series.
