Mini Lidar Chip LidarDot Debuts on iPhone 18 Pro: Sub-Millimeter AR Measurement
LidarDot, jointly developed by Apple and Sony, is the first solid-state lidar chip aimed at consumer electronics and is roughly the size of a mung bean. On the iPhone 18 Pro, AR distance measurement precision jumps from centimeter-level on the previous generation to sub-millimeter.
Apple and Sony Semiconductor Solutions have jointly developed the LidarDot chip, debuting on the iPhone 18 Pro. It is the first solid-state lidar chip designed for consumer electronics, sized about as small as a mung bean, and can be integrated into smartphone camera modules.
LidarDot uses a scanning architecture based on a MEMS micro-mirror. The chip integrates a tiny laser emitter and a MEMS-driven scanning mirror, capable of firing laser pulses into the surroundings and capturing the reflections 300,000 times per second. The pure solid-state design has no moving parts, giving it better shock resistance and lifespan than mechanical lidar.
On performance, LidarDot achieves distance measurement precision of 0.4 millimeters, 25 times the previous generation iPhone lidar. The jump lets AR applications handle tasks that were previously out of reach, including interior decoration measurement, furniture sizing, and even medical auxiliary diagnosis.
Sony Semiconductor CEO Terushi Shimizu said the cost of LidarDot has fallen to a level acceptable for consumer electronics, with a per-chip price of about 8.5 dollars. The company plans to make the chip available to other Android phone makers in the second half of 2026.
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