Apple fans might see three versions of the iPhone this year in the form of iPhone 8, iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus. With these new models come new technologies, and the latest iPhone 8 rumors suggest that it will come with a 3D laser scanner for facial recognition.
We have heard this iPhone 8 specs rumor before but the new buzz surely makes the old claims more credible.
The latest information comes from J.P. Morgan analyst Rod Hall, who claims that Apple will drop the Touch ID and remove the Home button in order to install an edge-to-edge display.
How 3D Laser Scanner Makes The iPhone Better
Hall claims that the iPhone 8 will have a front-facing 3D laser scanner, replacing the fingerprint scanner, to boost the security of the smartphone. The laser scanner will be a more accurate component compared to an infrared sensor.
With better security, the e-commerce potential of the gadget also grows and gives services such as Apple Pay a good push.
Another possible function of the 3D laser scanner will be for augmented reality.
"One obvious and potentially most compelling use would be AR/VR experiences in which the user's hands and other real world objects are being scanned and integrated into a field of view provided by the iPhone mounted into a Google Daydream-like headset," Hall said. "This would open up many interesting entertainment and gaming experiences not available today and might give Apple something extra in an AR/VR accessory compared to Google and others."
The analyst also mentioned the possibility of Apple offering developers an API that will help in making shopping for clothes online or checking if a bike is a right size for a buyer easier.
In case iPhone lovers are wondering if the facial recognition technology will affect iPhone 8 pricing, it definitely will. Perhaps that's why early rumors suggest that the iPhone 8 will hit the $1,000 range.
A 3D sensor for facial recognition will have several essential components that include a laser diode, an image sensor, a light filter, and a potent processor to make sense of everything. While we see this setup in other applications such as in the military and security, Apple will surely figure out a miniature version of this technology.
Hall also predicts that Apple might officially announce the upcoming iPhone as early as the WWDC 2017. It is best to take this information with a grain of salt.
With the iPhone 8 rumor mills in full swing, the hype builds up for the next iPhone. In turn, Apple share prices go up. Now the world will only have to wait if Apple can deliver an iPhone 8 that consumers will love.
