One Supplier of 3D Sensing Technology for the 'iPhone 8' Posts a Big Uptick in Orders

Gene Munster of LoupVentures recently broke down the news from Lumentum’s most recent earnings report:

Following encouraging comments from Apple’s leading VCESL laser supplier, Lumentum (LITE), on their FQ4 conference call this morning, we have become incrementally more upbeat on Apple’s next iPhone launch, and specifically the number of phones that will have advanced 3D sensing capabilities enabling augmented reality applications. We believe Lumentum is one of two to three company’s supplying Apple with VCSEL laser diodes, which is a key technology that adds advanced 3D sensing capabilities. Given Lumentum’s comments around $200m in bookings for the rest of CY17 (up from $5m in FQ4), as well as demand trends throughout 2018, we have become incrementally upbeat on the impact Apple’s next iPhone launch will have on the company and on the augmented reality industry. In total, we expect 55m 3D sensing enabled iPhone’s in 2017, going to 160m in 2018.

Lumentum supplies VCSEL laser diodes which is a major component to the apparent 3D sensors in the next iPhone.

Munster also believes, along with reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, that the iPhone 8 will launch in September.

The sensing technology will apparently replace Touch ID on the “iPhone 8.” But it could also provide a number of other nice features including the ability to authenticate you when the handset is place flat and the ability to silent notifications when you are looking at the phone’s screen.