Face ID: It usually only takes a few weeks for phone companies, especially those in China, to copy device features introduced by more famous brands like Apple and Samsung, but in the case of the iPhone X's facial recognition system, it seems there's a serious obstacle: the high price of the technology.
While Apple wasn't the first company to offer facial recognition on a smartphone, its system called Face ID was the first to use 3D sensing cameras, providing more accurate scanning and improved security.
In short, Android device manufacturers have looked at the technology and ultimately are unable to copy it.
3D sensing modules currently sell for between $30 and $50 per unit, so this is a huge financial burden for a device that will sell for a few euros.
Chinese Android phone makers have expressed hope that the pricing of these systems will drop in 2018 as more companies embrace it, leading to an increase in the number of suppliers. However, supply is still limited and Apple is considering adding Face ID to three different iPhone models in 2018, so the price won't drop anytime soon.
As a result, most Android device makers in China have already delayed plans to add 3D-based features to their phones, opting instead to rely on existing solutions like fingerprint scanners. The report also says that Samsung has no plans to offer 3D sensing apps yet, even though the company already offers standard iris and facial recognition on its flagships.
The complex nature of the 3D sensing technology in the iPhone X has also been a major problem for Apple, with many claiming that the company reduced the accuracy of the technology to make it easier for suppliers to manufacture units, but the company has strongly denied these claims.
