It appears that Apple has already begun responding to user criticism and is working behind the scenes on a clever engineering solution to enhance the capabilities of its sleek iPhone Air. According to the latest leaks from China, Apple is developing a completely new version of its Face ID facial recognition system, featuring a smaller size and ultra-thin design.
Why this change now?
According to the well-known leaker Instant Digital on Weibo, Apple has requested extremely small components from its suppliers to reduce the size of Face ID. The goal isn't simply to boast about miniaturization, but rather to free up space inside the iPhone to add a second, ultra-wide lens alongside the main one.
This move comes as an implicit admission from Apple that the current generation of iPhone Air, despite its dazzling design, has forced users to make painful compromises, most notably settling for a single camera, which is not appropriate for a device with a high price tag of $999.
The challenge of limited space
Apple engineers know the task isn't easy; the internal space of the iPhone Air is extremely cramped, with every millimeter utilized to maximize battery capacity. Therefore, adding a new camera requires a complete redesign of the device's internals and miniaturizing components as much as possible while maintaining their performance standards. This was also confirmed earlier by the leaker Digital Chat Station, who indicated that Apple is already focused on reducing the weight and thickness of internal components.
What about the foldable iPhone and the Mac?
The significance of this leak isn't limited to the iPhone Air. The anticipated foldable iPhone this year is expected to utilize the Touch ID fingerprint sensor in the side button to maintain its slim profile. However, if Apple succeeds in miniaturizing Face ID as the report suggests, we might see facial recognition make a strong comeback in future generations of foldable phones.
As for Macs, although rumors are currently quiet, the leaker hints that these thin sensors could be the key we've been waiting for to bring Face ID to thin MacBook screens, a move that was previously considered technically impossible.
Although we won't see the iPhone Air 2 until next year, this news confirms that Apple is seriously reconsidering its strategy after the numerous complaints flooding forums and social media platforms, which have negatively impacted phone sales. Apple doesn't just want a thin phone; it wants a thin and powerful phone without compromise.
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