Expect more IR image sensors in smartphones

ABI Research says recent smartphones signal an increase in future use of IR cameras.

Two recent smartphones could signify more IR cameras in smartphones in the future, according to ABI Research's Teardowns. The company looked at Caterpillar's Cat S60 and Samsung's Galaxy Note 7. The devices use IR cameras in very different ways since the companies are targeting different consumers.

The Note 7 utilizes an IR camera for accurate iris scanning. The biometric security applications of IR sensors is perhaps the most relevant to the average consumer. "The benefits of IR imagery are not well-known by the masses, but with a little education via marketing by the handset manufacturers, IR cameras could easily become a significant differentiator in smartphones," Teardown managing director Jim Mielke said in a press release. So IR sensors are not a specification that will sell phones simply for being there. Consumers want to see some kind of practical application as used in the Note 7.

Caterpillar, on the other hand, is looking at the commercial sector. The company is best known for its construction equipment, so its Cat S60 is made for the industrial sector and meant for employees who might already be using separate IR cameras for specific purposes. By equipping a smartphone with an IR camera, Caterpillar is hoping the value of less equipment to carry around outweighs the otherwise unimpressive specifications of the phone.

ABI Research predicts more IR cameras in future smartphones, but it does not specify any applications beyond listing what they are already used for. The iris scanner on the Note 7 was well-received before the phone was recalled, though, so that at least might become a popular use in the future.