iPhone 8 release date, specs rumors: 10th-anniversary smartphone may be able to recognize facial expressions and non-verbal cues

Emmanuelle Espiritu Saturday, February 18, 2017

An iPhone 7 is displayed in a store in London, Britain October 4, 2016. | Reuters/Stefan Wermuth

A high-end smartphone with 3D Facial Recognition technology may just be the perfect device to usher in the Apple iPhone's 10th-anniversary celebrations. And this particularly rumored feature may well prove to be anything but mere speculation.

According to the set of information gathered by BGR, Apple may indeed be planning on releasing the highly anticipated iPhone 8 with a revolutionary type of facial recognition bolstered by advanced laser sensors. This rumor took root via a research note from Cowen & Company, which stated that the upcoming smartphone variant will include "some form of facial/gesture recognition supported by a new laser sensor and an infrared sensor mounted near the front-facing camera."

Fans who have been keeping close tabs on all the rumors and speculations surrounding the purported 10th anniversary iPhone will remember that Apple has successfully picked up Emotient last year. This particular company has reportedly developed a specialized piece of technology that does not only recognize faces, but it can also make distinctions among a wide array of emotional states based on the person's facial expression.

Additionally, a report by Apple Insider has also cited a new research note from J.P. Morgan's Rod Hall that relayed the information that the iPhone 8 will allegedly incorporate laser technology that will give the phone the ability to recognize and identify faces.

Hall further added that this facial scanner could replace the Touch ID and that it may add $10 to $15 per module to the iPhone 8's selling price. This, along with the OLED display, glass casing, other rumored features, and increased production costs, might just bring the price of the iPhone 8 to about $1000 more than usual.

Recent rumors point to a possible September 2017 release for the iPhone 8, which could also come with a long range wireless charging technology, an A11 processor chip, and a bezel-less edge-to-edge display.