Apple's 10th anniversary iPhone is this year's most anticipated piece of technology. The iPhone X is a full-screen device, making it the first iPhone without a home button, a signature feature on all iPhone models, especially since Touch ID was introduced in 2013.

In order to create an edge-to-edge display, while maintaining the convenience of Touch ID, Apple has turned to facial recognition software to replace the home button. However, Apple isn't a pioneer with this feature — Samsung is credited with being the first company to use facial recognition on their smartphones.

The original Face ID

Samsung's Galaxy S7 was the first smartphone to feature facial recognition. The phone, which was released almost two years ago, allows users to unlock it with their fingerprint. Its successor, the S8, did the same. The fingerprint scanner was moved to the back of the phones in order to create a fullscreen design, a featured that appears to be the future of smartphones.

The reason Samsung kept their fingerprint scanner does not seem to be for convenience. Users have reported that the phones' facial recognition software is easily tricked. As the devices do not contain 3D sensors, a human face isn't the only thing that can unlock the devices— photographs of a person's face can be used, as well.

Apple's improvements

While Apple may be a few years behind the release of the first facial recognition software, Face ID is much more advanced. According to Pocket-Lint, the phone's TrueDepth camera allows for 3D facial recognition.

Unlike Samsung's phones, a photograph of someone's face cannot trick the iPhone X into unlocking.

Though Face ID is being released years after Samsung started using facial recognition, Apple appears to have put much more work into the technology.

Rivalry

Apple and Samsung have always been tech rivals. Over the years, the two companies have gone back and forth accusing one another of stealing ideas. However, it's clear they need each other.

The new iPhone X is Apple's first phone to feature an OLED screen which they refer to as the "Super Retina Display." The screens are created by Samsung's component division, which means that Samsung will profit from each iPhone X sold.

Though the rivals have developed somewhat of a partnership, Samsung is not afraid to nab Apple's ideas. Pocket-Lint reports that the company is working on something similar to Apple's TrueDepth camera for the Galaxy S9. Samsung is apparently aiming to use 3D sensing technology to ensure that photos cannot trick the new phone.

Although Apple frequently mentions how revolutionary Face ID is, users will soon be able to find out how their technology compares to Samsung's. According to the Business Insider, the first batch of Apple's iPhone X will ship out in early November.
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