Science

IPhone 8: Faster, more secure facial recognition to replace Touch ID?

Vivo engineers claim that the sensor will be able to penetrate 1.2mm thick OLED panel and still register the finger impression

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo at KGI Securities gave 10 predictions for what Apple might include in its traditional fall smartphone release window, via Street Insider.

Instead, if Apple manages to deploy an in-display fingerprint sensor in next year's iPhone model, it'll seem like a "me-too" feature at best, as I'll bet many of Qualcomm's chip customers will be keen to use the company's in-display fingerprint scanning technology to create an additional selling point for their devices. It would be able to open secure apps and authenticate payments like Apple Pay, which are now locked through the Touch ID fingerprint sensor.

Kuo believes all three new models will start at 64GB of storage, running up to the 256GB level (no change at the top end).

The one prediction that some may have difficulty with is that Apple will exclusively rely on 3D Sensing based facial recognition instead of Touch ID. Generally, the rumor mill has indicated that the iPhone 8 will have a much bigger screen to body ratio than previous models and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor embedded in the display. The analyst also claims that the iPhone 8 will be offered in less colour options than the other iPhone lineup. No matter how fast and accurate Apple's 3D facial scanning is on the iPhone 8, a user still wouldn't be able to unlock the iPhone without lifting it up and pointing it directly at his or her face. "The 4.7" version may only have 2GB of DRAM, says Kuo. All three phones are also tipped to have glass backs and an aluminium frame.

Also, designer Martin Hajek has released iPhone 8 renders based on dummy units, and his renders corroborate all past leaks. The nearly bezel-less display is also seen in the photos. The report states that Apple is looking to make an invertment in LG, in exchange for OLED display production for its iPhones.

According to the analyst, Apple's next-generation OLED iPhone will indeed ditch the physical home button beneath the display.

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IPhone 8: Faster, more secure facial recognition to replace Touch ID?