Apple denies report about reduced Face ID accuracy

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Face ID is ready to replace Touch ID.
Photo: Apple

Apple batted down a report this morning that claimed the company made compromises with the iPhone X’s new Face ID hardware after the phone was revealed at last month’s keynote.

Bloomberg reported that “Apple didn’t add extra time to get it right,” referring to the dot projector on the Face ID component saying it’s accuracy is weaker now. This allegedly was done because it was holding back iPhone X manufacturing, but an Apple spokesperson says security hasn’t been weakened.

“Bloomberg’s claim that Apple has reduced accuracy spec for Face ID is completely false and we expect Face ID to be the new gold standard for facial authentication,” the company said in a statement.

Apple says the quality and accuracy of Face ID hasn’t changed. There’s still a 1 in a million probability that your iPhone X can be unlocked by some random person’s face.

The company didn’t actually deny making any manufacturing changes to the Face ID components, however. Manufacturing difficulties with the complex sensors reportedly caused a production bottleneck over the past few months.

iPhone X preorders start this Friday, October 27, at 12:01 a.m. Pacific. Orders ship November 3. Stores will have iPhone X available for walk-in customers, although supplies will likely be severely limited.

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