Apple Laser Deal Signals AR Expansion

Better AR capabilities could be finding their way into more iPhones before too long. 

Apple this week announced that it will pump more money, to the tune of $410 million, into a major laser supplier that develops key AR components. The recipient is II-VI, a Pennsylvania-based optics and laser company with several factories across the country. II-VI manufactures lasers that enable Face ID and other face-tracking features with the selfie camera, as well as lasers used in the Lidar scanners now available on the iPhone 12 Pro.