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What to expect from next month’s iPhone 11 refresh

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what-to-expect-iPhone-11
Here are all the things we think Apple has up its sleeve.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

The 2019 iPhone lineup is just weeks away from getting its grand unveiling. And according to recent rumors, it could be a lot more exciting than we first anticipated.

Faster chips and an extra camera sensor may not be the only reasons to upgrade this year. Two-way wireless charging, improved Face ID, and Apple Pencil support could also be on Apple’s list.

Here’s everything we expect from next month’s iPhone refresh.

2019 iPhone to bring tougher glass, even better Face ID

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iPhone 11 R and 11 Max on fence post
These iPhone 11 dummies should be a lot like the real thing.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

This year’s iPhone refresh will introduce new “shatter-resistance technology” and even better Face ID, according to a new report.

It is claimed users will be able to unlock Apple’s next-generation handsets from multiple angles — like when they’re lying flat on a table — thanks to a new Face ID sensor with a wider field of view.

Researchers trick Face ID with modified glasses

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Facial Recognition
Face ID won‘t unlock your iPhone if you're unconscious. Glasses can trick the sensors, though.
Image: Apple

One of the advantages of Face ID over Touch ID is that the person unlocking their iPhone must be awake. However, researchers found a way to fool Apple’s facial recognition system into thinking someone is conscious when they weren’t — using modified glasses.

This method does not allow a hacker to trick an iPhone into misidentifying one person as another. But it still could prove problematic for Face ID.

2021 iPhones could boast both Face ID and in-display Touch ID

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iPhone
Touch ID could make a return.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple could release an iPhone with both Face ID and under-display Touch ID in 2021, a new report by renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims.

Before the iPhone X introduced Face ID, rumors abounded that Apple was trying to develop Touch ID that would work as part of the iPhone’s display. However, it supposedly ran into technical challenges.

Notchless iPhone XI concept is too futuristic to be real

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iphone concept
An alternative take on the iPhone XI.
Photo: Bassam Nasser

The grand unveiling of the iPhone 11 is less than two months away and even though we pretty much already know the new design, that’s not stopping some concept designers of dreaming what could be.

Notchless front displays have already made their way onto Android phones. This year’s iPhone is still expected to have a notch, so Bassam Nasser imagined what it would look like if Apple was ahead of the competition. His gorgeous concept also packs a horizontal three-lens camera and an embossed Apple logo that makes the iPhone look more futuristic than ever.

Too bad this can’t be real:

See Pixel 4’s new Face ID clone in action

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Pixel 4
The Pixel 4 will challenge the iPhone later this year.
Photo: Google

Google’s next flagship smartphone will borrow one of the iPhone’s most popular new features when it launches later this year.

Full details of the upcoming Pixel 4 will be revealed this fall. For now, Google seems pretty content to keep spilling out teasers of the new phone. The company already gave a glimpse of the giant new camera on the back. Today we’re getting a look at the new Face ID copy-cat feature and another big surprise.

Check out the teaser:

Yes, you can unlock the iPhone with a folio cover. Here’s how.

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Apple didn't invent the Slide to Unlock gesture.
The gesture that started it all.
Photo: Jared Earle/Flickr

One of the best iPad features is the auto-lock/unlock that is triggered when you open and close its cover. Introduced with the iPad 2, smart unlock was revolutionary, in terms of lazy unlocking at least.

But did you know that the iPhone can do the same? If you have an X-series iPhone, and a compatible cover, you can use the same auto sleep/wake feature that iPad users have enjoyed since the iPad 2.

iPhone’s notch and Face ID could disappear in 2021

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iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max
Dumping Face ID and a few other changes would allow Apple to make iPhones without a screen cutout.
Photo: Apple

Apple is reportedly giving up on facial recognition and instead going with a full-screen fingerprint scanner. This will allegedly allow the company to leave off the “notch” from every iPhone model released in 2021.

New Apple ad says Face ID is safer than Touch ID

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faceid
Face ID is almost too easy to use.
Photo: Apple

Apple tossed some shade at its own product in a new ad that promotes Face ID.

The hilarious new ad shows how much easier it is to use Face ID over Touch ID as a vegged-out guy relaxes in his reclining chair and is too lazy to touch his iPhone XR to see who’s texting him.

Prepare to laugh:

Beta users can now sign into iCloud using Face ID or Touch ID

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The latest Apple betas offer the option of signing in with Face ID or Touch ID.
The latest Apple betas offer the option of signing in with Face ID or Touch ID.
Screenshot: Charlie Sorrel

Users running the latest iOS 13, iPadOS 13 or macOS Catalina betas can now sign into iCloud using either Face ID or Touch ID.

If you’re using these beta versions, visiting iCloud in Safari will present a pop-up asking if you want to log in using biometrics.

Sketchy report claims Apple will resurrect iPhone SE this fall

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iPhone SE 2 with edge-to-edge display and notch
Is a dream iPhone SE upgrade on the way?
Photo: Olixar

Apple is preparing an entry-level “iPhone XE” that will be introduced this fall, according to a sketchy new report.

The device is claimed to be an iPhone SE successor with huge improvements, including an edge-to-edge display and Face ID. It could also pack Apple’s latest A12 Bionic processor.

Gorgeous iPhone XI concept kills the notch… sort of

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This is what the iPhone XI might look like if it had a “hole-punch” instead of a notch.
This is what the iPhone XI might look like if it had a “hole-punch” instead of a notch.
Photo: ConceptsiPhone

The notch at the top of the iPhone display has become a familiar part of recent models, but one designer considered another option. He created an iPhone XI mockup with a small hole in the screen instead.

Watch the video he created to demonstrate the idea now:

iPad Air vs. Pro vs. mini: Which one’s right for you?

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The complete iPad lineup now includes Apple Pencil support, best-in-class performance, advanced displays and all-day battery life, Apple says.
There's an iPad for everyone.
Photo: Apple

Apple today added two new iPads to its lineup while dropping the 10.5-inch iPad Pro released in 2017. It now offers five different tablets, each of which has its own advantages. So how do you choose the right one?

Which iPad is best for unparalleled performance? Which one offers more bang for your buck? Which is starting to look a little long in the tooth?

Our in-depth comparison shows you exactly how all five of Apple’s current iPads stack up — and helps you decide which one is worth your hard-earned cash.

Apple simplifies Face ID, iOS 12 and recycling in new ads

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Face ID ad
Did you know Face ID doesn't store photos of your face?
Photo: Apple

Apple goes back to the basics in a new set of ads today uploaded to YouTube.

Doing away with fancy effects, catchy music, and even its own hardware, it highlights some of the key features of Face ID and iOS 12. It also promotes its smartphone recycling program that’s open to all handsets — even if they’re not iPhones.

Apple making your iPhone safe from your evil twin

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Apple admits that Face ID really is susceptible to being tricked by identical twins.
Apple admits that Face ID really is susceptible to being tricked by identical twins.
Photo: Apple

The Face ID biometric security system is already extremely accurate but Apple wants to make it even more safe. The company has come up with a method for telling the difference between two people who are almost identical because they’re closely related. 

The system would also prevent unlocking iPhone and iPad devices with 3D masks.

Apple acquires trove of AI security camera patents

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Lighthouse
Is Apple planning to make cameras of its own?
Photo: Lighthouse

Lighthouse, a smart security camera maker that specialized in AI recognition, officially died at the end of 2018 but its tech is about to get a second chance thanks to Apple.

Apple recently acquired a big batch of patents from the failed startup. Lighthouse launched its security camera a year ago making it easier for users to sort through footage thanks to 3D depth sensing and AI features connected to an iOS app. Now it looks like Apple might incorporate some of those patents into Face ID.

iPhone should steal these hands-free gestures from LG

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LG G8ThinQ
The LG G8ThinQ totally “borrowed” its look from the iPhone. The iPhone should borrow its gesture control system.
Photo: LG

The just-announced LG G8 ThinQ packs a forward-facing sensor that allows users to control some of the phone’s functions with hand gestures, with no need to touch the screen.

The sensors used by the iPhone for Face ID should be able to duplicate this functionality. And that, in turn could simplify use of the device.

Galaxy S10 vs. iPhone: Samsung gives us so many reasons to switch

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Galaxy S10+ camera
Can Samsung's top-rated camera system convince you to switch?
Photo: Samsung

Samsung just delivered a keynote packed with new devices, including an all-new Galaxy S10 lineup and the exciting Galaxy Flex, its first foldable smartphone. But are any of them worth considering for an iPhone fan?

We’ve compared all four of Samsung’s new devices with the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR to see how they stack up. Whether you want the best display, cameras, security, or performance, we can help you choose the right phone for you.

Android phones might finally catch up to Apple’s Face ID

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face id
The company that sells Apple a critical component for Face ID expects to have more customers this year.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

iPhone’s multi-year lead in facial recognition could finally be nearing its end, as one of the third-party suppliers for the hardware in Face ID says it expects to start selling its 3D sensors to more companies this year.

Insane concept gives iPhone 11 a crazy 360-degree display

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iPhone concept
Is it possible to have too much screen?
Photo: ConceptsiPhone

Do you ever wish that your entire iPhone was just one giant screen? With Apple continuously making displays bigger and bezels tinier, it seems inevitable that the iPhone will boast a display that wraps around the front and back.

The folks at ConceptsiPhone have come out with a wild iPhone 11 concept that envisions what an all-display iPhone would look like. Imagine all the new possibilities created for apps with a 360-degree display. Also, imagine how much Apple would charge to repair it.

This thing looks crazy: