Apple slams 'completely false' rumours about key feature of new iPhone X
Apple has slammed rumours its new facial recognition camera is causing headaches for manufacturers ahead of the release of the iPhone X.
A report in Bloomberg on Wednesday suggested the key feature on the iPhone X, a True Depth camera on the front of the phone to allow users to unlock the keypad with facial recognition, had been made less accurate because factories were struggling to build it.
The report claims Apple told partners that it could reduce the accuracy of the camera to make it easier to manufacture.
An Apple spokesman told Business Insider “the quality and accuracy of Face ID hasn’t changed” and it is “incredibly easy and intuitive to use”.
“It continues to be one in a million probability of a random person unlocking your iPhone with Face ID,” the spokesman said.
“Bloomberg’s claim that Apple has reduced the accuracy spec for Face ID is completely false and we expect Face ID to be the new gold standard for facial authentication.”
In September, Apple vice president Craig Federighi was giving a demonstrationon the device's Face ID function and explained to the audience that unlocking the phone "was as easy as looking at it and swiping up”.
But after staring down at the phone and trying to swipe, it prompted him to enter his passcode.
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Mr Federighi laughed before going to the phone's back-up to unlock it and continue with his presentation.
While some made fun of the mistake, suggesting the phone had faults, others pointed out that it might not be the device's fault.
They pointed out that the phone had just been restarted, meaning the user would have had to enter a passcode anyway.
The iPhone X will hit stores on November 3.
