Apple Reportedly Investigates Multispectral Camera Technology for Future iPhones

Apple is reportedly investigating multispectral camera sensor technology for future iPhone models. This information originates from Digital Chat Station on Weibo.According to Digital Chat Station, Apple is showing interest in "multi-spectrum" technology, with supply chain evaluations underway, though testing has not yet commenced.### Understanding Multispectral CamerasConventional camera sensors function by detecting red, green, and blue light. Color values for each pixel are calculated based on the relative amounts of light captured by these receptors. For instance, equal signals from red and blue receptors indicate the color purple. This method allows for the detection of millions of color variants within the visible light spectrum.In contrast, a multispectral camera is capable of detecting frequencies beyond the visible light range, including infrared and ultraviolet light, in addition to visible light.### Potential Applications and Current ImplementationsMultispectral cameras are primarily employed in military and industrial fields, such as in satellites and drones. Their initial development focused on military target identification. Other applications include weather monitoring, crop analysis, and detecting art forgeries. Commercially, they are utilized for quality control in manufacturing processes.In consumer-grade cameras, this technology has the potential to enhance color identification accuracy, particularly in low-light conditions. Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei has integrated multispectral technology into two of its smartphone cameras. Huawei cited improved color accuracy and performance in dark environments as benefits.However, reviews of these implementations have been noted, and widespread adoption of multispectral camera technology in smartphones has not yet been observed.