The hardware that allows the iPhone 8's rumored facial recognition capability could consist of a "revolutionary" new camera system for its front-facing camera.
The camera module that exists in current iPhones will be augmented by a pair of depth-sensing infrared modules, according to a report at MacRumors that cites an analyst with a solid track record in making such predictions. The sensors would allow the phone to find the location and depth of objects, such as your face, placed in front of it.
The report follows related rumors of Apple augmenting or ditching its Touch ID fingerprint scanner in favor of iris or facial recognition technology, fueled by its acquisition of Israeli facial recognition startup RealFace. Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 -- yep, that Galaxy Note 7 -- was among the first phones to come equipped with an iris scanner.
Said to be more secure than fingerprint recognition, facial or iris scans could be the iPhone 8's signature security feature, and perhaps accelerate adoption of Apple Pay. Whether people will want to scan their face before every transaction remains to be seen.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.