Is There A Sunlight Problem With the iPhone X Face ID?

Updated on

The iPhone X has been heralded as Apple’s handset of the future, and after being highly anticipated by technology enthusiasts around the world, the iPhone X is finally here. Apple says the handset is a complete reimagining of what the iPhone should be, especially as it’s being released ten years after the original phone revolutionized the world we live in.

The fundamental aspects of the iPhone are totally different, where the fingerprint sensor and home button have been replaced by a Face ID unlocking system and a combination of navigation gestures. With a $999 starting price, Apple are certainly pushing expectations to new heights, and the hype surrounding the handset has reached levels of hysteria unlike anything previously witnessed.

Reviews of the phone have been highly favorable, starting with the sleek, highly unique design. It is clean and polished, leaving just the word ‘iPhone’ on the back, and the colorful, bright nature of the screen creates what looks like a 3D render as opposed to an actual phone. The phone uses an OLED panel for a terrific display, alongside a state of the art TrueDepth camera system, and a slightly modified iOS 11 operating system. Navigating between apps is easy, and if you’d like to learn more regarding the benefits of this incredible handset, be sure to research further online.

The Face ID feature has been widely spoken of, and many didn’t expect this to come without a few technical difficulties. One of the early issues noticed by users is the iPhone X sunlight problem, which is said to be a quirk with the Face ID scanner. The issue is most apparent when the phone is used in ‘bright sunlight’, which causes the face scanner to behave inconsistently. Some have suggested the issue relates to infrared light, which the iPhone X is unable to regularly adapt too.

The iPhone X sunlight problem can be resolved by moving into a dark environment, or by moving your face closer to the screen than normal, though consumers rightfully believe they shouldn’t have to do this. The iPhone X sunlight problem also extends beyond the Face ID feature, where users have reported similar adversities when taking selfies with the front-facing camera. Apple are pioneers of the Face ID technology, so kinks are to be expected, and if the function doesn’t work in direct sunlight then I guess this is a small price to pay. Apple has however said that direct sunlight shouldn’t be an issue for the scanner, where users should keep the device somewhere between 25 and 50cm from their face.

Professor Kevin Bowyer of Notre Dame believes the sunlight issue is much ado about nothing, and remarks that most users won’t experience notable problems with the biometric technology. Perhaps in extreme conditions users will be affected, but for the most part technical issues seem minimal. Another expert, at Michigan State University, said that extreme sunlight illuminations can affect the depth sensor, but the chance of this occurring is unlikely.

It would appear as if the iPhone X sunlight problem is easily fixable, and that the face ID works for the most part, but may occasionally fail to register. As the device slowly makes it way to customers across the globe, the handset will truly be put to the test, especially the Face ID function.

I hope you have found this article informative, and if you’d like to contribute to the discussion, please comment below to kick-start the conversation.

 

Leave a Comment