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The iPhone X doesn’t actually need the TrueDepth camera kit in its notch for Animoji

By Daniel Petrov

Updated: Nov 15, 2017, 5:49 AM

24comments

Apple is betting so hard on the added value of its inimitable TrueDepth camera kit that allows Face ID biometric unlocking and entertaining crowd-pleasers like Animojis, that it made several compromises with the look and app compatibility of the iPhone X (looking at you, notch-y top).

Well, folks were perfectly fine with unlocking their phone via the Touch ID finger scanner, and now it turns out that the Animoji feature may not even need the TrueDepth set, so... Wait, what? Apparently, even when you cover everything in the notch area but the regular selfie camera, you will still be able to animate your facial expressions in the form of a fox, a robot, or an alien. Granted, the 3D face-scanning kit is maybe being used for the initial mapping, or for more detailed representation of your mimics, but it's not otherwise a requirement, it seems.

Apple, however, has enabled its augmented reality development kit only for the front camera of the iPhone X, not the other lowly iPhones, so you will still need that expensive gear to swap your face with the one of a talking pig, and startle the natives in the Amazonian rainforests.

source: TNW

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.