Rumor | Apple decides to shrink next-gen Face ID chips by up to 50%

Face ID is often touted as one of the most effective forms of mobile biometric authentication, thanks to the dense matrix of "dots" projected onto the user's face in order to build up a stored image for a given iPhone to "recognize", via its IR emitter. This component is backed up by others deeper within the phone's internals, one of which is its associated VCSEL chip.

Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers are made of specific type of semiconductors that can emit light at right angles to this chip's upper layers. Therefore, VCSELs play an important role in Face ID's dot-projection mechanism, and have arguably earned their place in the iPhone's signature notch.

Then again, according to the Taiwanese industrial media outlet DigiTimes, it may have to make some adaptations in order to stay there. Apple is reportedly now looking to source VCSELs of between 40% and 50% smaller than before.

This might be great news for fans of the rumored smaller notch in the upcoming iPhone 13 series - if not for the supplier that might see its order from Apple slashed by as much as half year-on-year. On the other hand, indications that these smaller VCSEL chips might also be destined for next-gen iPads (thus potentially boosting their screen-to-body ratio) might help temper this rumored loss of business.

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