With the upcoming iPhone 15 launch this autumn, Apple is reportedly bringing the Dynamic Island to the whole range for the first time ever. Alongside this, the technology company is said to be planning to relocate the proximity sensor of the iPhone to the inside of the Dynamic Island.
The primary function of the proximity sensor is to switch off the screen when a user raises the device to their ear, and it also helps optimize the Always-On Display for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Esteemed Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was the first to report on this change, stating that the iPhone 15’s proximity sensor “is positioned within the Dynamic Island.” Kuo also mentioned that this modification will have no bearing on the Dynamic Island area itself.
At present, the proximity sensor on the iPhone 14 Pro is located beneath the device’s display, outside of the Dynamic Island. Kuo explained that while all iPhone 15 models have a similar Dynamic Island design to the iPhone 14 Pro, the distinction lies in the positioning of the proximity sensor. In the iPhone 14 Pro, the proximity sensor is positioned under the display (outside of the dynamic island). In contrast, in the iPhone 15 series, the proximity sensor is situated within the dynamic island, with practically no modification to the Dynamic Island area.
In a separate tweet, leaker Unknownz21 corroborated this change, claiming that it applies to both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. This is codenamed “Sphinx” and is part of the “Single Pearl Module.” Pearl is Apple’s term for Face ID.
Kuo also added that Apple supplier Finisar would provide the firm with 940n wavelength proximity sensors for the iPhone 15, in contrast to the 1380nm proximity sensors currently utilized in the iPhone 14 Pro.
This is one of those rumors that is clearly based on supply chain discussions, making it difficult to determine what, if anything, it implies for the end-user. If it is indeed a part of the Face ID stack, it could theoretically result in improved Face ID performance for the iPhone 15 in some way.
In my opinion, the more likely scenario is that this is a change Apple is implementing for manufacturing or cost-cutting purposes.