Apple iPhone 8 News, Release, Specs Update: Apple Reportedly Testing 3-D Face Scanning To Unlock Next iPhone

Apple is reportedly working on a feature that will let users unlock their iPhone using their face instead of a fingerprint. A list of 10 features that the upcoming Apple iPhone 8 will boast has been published by noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who believes Apple will not embed a Touch ID sensor under the screen.

The said list for the iPhone 8 was provided to Street Insider by Kuo. The vast majority of the claims about the "iPhone 8" have already been reported, but the lack of an under-screen Touch ID sensor stands out as contrary to many recent rumors about the device.

According to the report, the scan-through ability of the under display fingerprint solution has "technical challenges". Moreover, the "overlayered panel module" has "weakened scan-through performance" as a result.

Other understandings of the report claim that the analyst believes that there won't be a Touch ID sensor at all. However, the source does not say that and only claims that the "virtual home button" in the screen won't support the technology.

During the testing phase, the face unlocks feature takes in more data points than a fingerprint scan, making it more secure than the Touch ID system, the person said. Apple had introduced Touch ID in 2013 with the iPhone 5s for unlocking the phone and it added support for authenticating payments and logging into apps a year later, as reported by Bloomberg.

However, recent rumors from other sources including Apple's chip partner TSMC suggest that the Touch ID sensor will be embedded in the screen. The rest of the report reiterated previous information previously promulgated by KGI Securities like 3D sensing for facial recognition, fast charging through USB-C power delivery through the Lightning cable, as well as a full availability of the "iPhone 8" later than that of the "iPhone 7s" and "iPhone 7s Plus."