Manufacturers Are Struggling to Make Apple’s Face ID Camera, Which Means Fewer IPhone Xs Will Be Available
The iPhone X is almost here, but a new report claims Apple is struggling to make enough copies. According to Bloomberg , the company may even have lowered the accuracy requirements for its new Face ID camera with facial recognition to help its suppliers meet needs in a timely manner.
So will the iPhone Xs be enough? And will Face ID live up to Apple’s hype? Here’s what you need to know.
What’s going on with the Apple Face ID camera?
When Apple first unveiled the iPhone X in September, it said Face ID was more secure than the fingerprint scanner it replaces. The company says there is a one in a million chance that a random person will be able to pick up your iPhone X and face unlock, compared to a 1 in 50,000 chance on Touch ID devices.
While a Bloomberg report notes that Face ID is still “much better” than Touch ID, if the sources are correct, the iPhone X may not be as secure as promised.
In an official statement, Apple denied the rumors and reiterated its one-in-a-million claim, but we won’t know for sure until the iPhone X is released and hackers can verify it.
Will there be enough iPhone X in stock?
Even if Apple lowers its requirements for Face ID accuracy, it may not be enough to ensure production continuity. According to the much-cited Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, at launch, Apple may only have 2-3 million units in stock, of which 25-30 million will be available by the end of the year.
By comparison, Apple reportedly sold 5.5 million copies of the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus in its first weekend. Sales of previous models were even higher, with nearly 10 million people buying an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus at launch.
Based on these numbers, it looks like the demand for the iPhone X could easily exceed what is available at launch. Although, if this Face ID camera report is correct, it makes sense to wait a little longer anyway before buying a new smartphone.