Apple scraps $22 million deal for quantum dot iPhone camera with Nanoco

Tech giant Apple has reportedly scrapped a $22 million contract with British tech firm Nanoco for advanced iPhone camera sensor. According to a report by Apple Insider published on Tuesday, the technology allows camera sensors to gather light more efficiently compared to traditional silicon designs but the British firm is now exploring other potential uses for the technology with different customers. The technology was likely to be used in Apple's new lineup of iPhones set to be launched in September this year. The details about it were yet to be confirmed by the tech company. 

Several reports in the recent times have suggested that Apple is set to bring triple-lens cameras to the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Max, while the iPhone XR successor will get a dual-lens shooter. But, if the new report is to be believed, the company has decided to remove one feature to reduce the cost.

Manchester-based Nanoco primarily develops cadmium-free quantum dots for displays. The company has not disclosed the identity of its customer, but did announce a contract with a “large undisclosed US listed corporation” in 2018 valued at £17.1 million ($21.75 million) over two years, which amounted to more than half its revenues. The unnamed company is believed to be Apple. 

It is believed that the technology would have improved photography and AR features on the iPhone but came at a very high cost. 

Out of the three iPhones Apple is set to launch, the 6.7-inch and 5.4-inch iPhones would be 5G-capable, its mid-size 6.1-inch iPhone would not have 5G-capabilities. Apart from this, the iPhone XR which is slated to release in 2019, is expected to feature a 3,110mAh battery which would be bigger than the 2,942mAh battery that the company added in iPhone XR that was launched in 2018.

Other reports have also suggested that the upcoming iPhone XR 2 is coming with Apple`s A13 processor made with a second generation 7nm process that would increase battery performance.