Face ID in 'iPhone 12' may gain speed alongside camera enhancements

The "iPhone 12" could include a faster Face ID authentication than currently offered, a leaker claims, as well as an enhanced version of digital zoom that is assisted by advancements in computational photography.

In the days before Apple is anticipated to launch a new collection of iPhones, more leaks about what to expect are surfacing by various sources. One such leak from a well-established leaker centers around the photographic capabilities of the inbound models.

According to a series of tweets from "@Pineeaks," a Twitter account operated by Max Winebach, Apple is still planning to ship a "dynamic zoning algorithm" for the TrueDepth camera array. The algorithm would enable the Face ID biometric authentication system to acquire a user's face at a faster rate, which will shave off fractions of a second from the entire Face ID unlocking process.

The tweet list, spotted by MacRumors also claims Apple won't be updating the design of the TrueDepth array at all for most of the models, with the exception of the "iPhone 12 mini." For that model, Winebach claims the notch will be narrower but taller to accommodate the smaller display.

https://t.co/EPj76hm9wZ
The "dynamic zoning algorithm" is shipping. The redesigned TrueDepth Camera System though, is not. Instead, a more "tightly" arranged TrueDepth will be shipped with the 5.4" iPhone. The notch shrinks horizontally, but increases slightly vertically.
— Pine (@PineLeaks) October 11, 2020

The digital and optical zoom capabilities will apparently get a "massive boost" for 2020, with a "significantly extended digital zoom" with improved distance and quality. The upgrade, which could enable a 10x digital zoom, would rely on the iPhone combining "several frames at different zoom levels, and stacking them together," forming a hybrid of optical zooming and cropping, which then uses an algorithm to handle alignment and sharpening.

The ability to focus on items closer to the iPhone's camera may also be on the way. The account claims a sort of "macro camera" is still on the way, with users able to get "closer to objects compared to the current iPhone 11 Ultra Wide."

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12 Comments

gmgravytrain 884 comments · 8 Years

About 4 years ago

People certainly need Face ID to be a couple of milliseconds faster to have more time in their lives to waste on social media./s

Smartphones are fast at doing nearly everything we need but there are those who are never satisfied. I don't really understand that much need for speed.

comesoon 1 comment · 4 Years

gmgravytrain said:

People certainly need Face ID to be a couple of milliseconds faster to have more time in their lives to waste on social media./s

Smartphones are fast at doing nearly everything we need but there are those who are never satisfied. I don't really understand that much need for speed.

I agree gravytrain, I think Moore just should have smoked a doobie, say "F" it, and let it flow like Molasses. /s

On the other hand I contest the notion that Face ID's algorithm is getting better or worse. The Face ID mechanism on the 2018 iPad Pro did 3D scanning on the face from multiple planes and would work from any angle while in bed and scans of your chin, side of face, or top of head. Since iOS 14 I've been noticing similar passes on my iPhone, though not if the phone is held horizontally.

avon b7 8008 comments · 20 Years

gmgravytrain said:

People certainly need Face ID to be a couple of milliseconds faster to have more time in their lives to waste on social media./s

Smartphones are fast at doing nearly everything we need but there are those who are never satisfied. I don't really understand that much need for speed.

You are right but I suspect the increase is just a by-product of faster processing across the board and some other feature that will make use if the array.

On the camera front it doesn't look like this rumour brings much 'new' to the table (when compared to what's already available on other phones) and doesn't mention low light noise which is where I think Apple truly suffers. Perhaps due to sensor size.

If they can improve that aspect it would really be a big jump.

That said, a higher optical zoom factor would definitely be a plus.

tjwolf 423 comments · 12 Years

After 8 months of covid, I could care less about a slightly faster face-id. I sure hope Apple planned and integrated TouchID-on-power-button for the iPhone 12. They did so on the new iPad - and obviously its design was complete before covid too, so I don't buy the argument "it was too late to integrate it when covid hit".

TouchID and later FaceID caused me to be more security conscious and changed to much longer, more secure password - no problem, since I rarely have to type it. But since covid hit and FaceID become useless, it's been hell (not enough to shorten it though). Anyway, the addition of TouchID alone would be reason enough for me to upgrade from my iPhone X.

JFC_PA 947 comments · 7 Years

With “ten fails and it’s wiped” I’m happy enough with the security of a shorter passcode: so FaceID with a mask, as infrequently as it occurs (grocery store, gas station...) is a better route than extra hardware I don’t need. Much like more chargers and earphones.