The iPhone X is set to be released on November 3. However, even prior to this year's flagship Apple handset hitting shelves, there is a lot of interest regarding the 2018 iPhones and what they might feature. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously claimed that all of the smartphones to be released by Apple next year will be equipped with the Face ID feature. In his latest note to investors, Kuo explained that Apple will not decrease the quality of the TrueDepth sensor for its 2018 Iphone Models, contrary to popular belief.
TrueDepth camera will be made of glass, says, analyst
Apple has been slow to produce the iPhone X units due to supply shortages and difficulty in mounting the parts for the TrueDepth sensor. This led many fans to assume that the Cupertino-based company would use a cheaper and less accurate configuration for the 3D-sensing Camera in the 2018 iPhone models. However, in Kuo's note to investors, obtained by Apple Insider, the analyst claims that Apple will use the same glass part for the specialized camera in 2018 as it has done for this year's iPhone X. In fact, Apple has requisitioned additional suppliers for the glass, so that it does not face the same shortages that it did this year. Asia Optical, Hoya, Genius, and Largan are some of the new suppliers for the TrueDepth camera parts.
Thus, it seems Apple is looking to improve the technology, rather than making it less accurate.
The analyst also revealed that Android smartphone manufacturers will not be able to launch a similar facial recognition technology before the second half of next year. In fact, such a feature may be introduced to Android devices by early 2019.
This will give Apple ample time to improve on its existing technology and build better Face ID for its devices. Kuo had previously claimed that the iPads to be introduced in 2018 will also ship with Face ID, although it remains uncertain at this point whether this would mean the Touch ID sensor being ditched.
Rumors of lower quality TrueDepth sensor in iPhone X
On October 25, just a couple of days prior to the start of the preorders for the iPhone X, Bloomberg reported that Apple had apparently told its suppliers to compromise on the accuracy of the TrueDepth sensor, in a bid to increase the overall production of the handset. However, Apple vehemently denied this report and said that there was no truth to these reports. Kuo's latest note to investors seems to echo the same response that Apple had about these rumors.
