You might be able to unlock the next iPhone without lifting a finger.

Rumors about Apple’s highly anticipated iPhone 8 suggest the firm is tossing out the Touch ID and replacing it with facial recognition technology.

The smartphone would feature a front-facing 3D laser scanner to detect the user's face, instead of their fingerprint, in order to provide first-class security.

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New rumors about Apple’s iPhone 8 suggest the firm is tossing out the Touch ID and replacing it with facial recognition technology. The device would feature a front-facing 3D laser scanner to detect the user's face, instead of their fingerprint, in order to provide first-class security

iPHONE 8 RUMORS Several rumors have been circulating about the iPhone 8, and suggest the next device may have: - Dual-lens 3D camera - Augmented reality to generate real-time views of surroundings - Curved glass casing - Plastic OLED screen - Wireless charging - A folding element - New 5 inch (12.7 centimeter) and 5.8 inch (14.7 centimeter) model, which will have a wraparound OLED screen - 5.8 inch will be designed with the Touch ID finger print sensor 'under the glass and in the active display area' - A new 'pure white' model - Aluminum back will be replaced with two reinforced glass panes and a metal frame in the middle - Facial recognition Advertisement

The latest rumors was revealed to MacRumors by Rod Hall, a JPMorgan analyst.

Hall noted that replacing the Touch ID, which eliminates the Home button, would leave room for the most predicted feature of the iPhone 8 – an edge-to-edge screen.

However, adding the 3D scanner to the design would increase the iPhone 8’s price by $10 to $15 per unit.

And all the other cutting-edge technology such as an OLED display, glass casing, wireless charging and more that has been rumored will also add to the price.

Other experts have said the smartphone could cost users more than $1,000 (£800) – making it the most expensive handset the firm has ever produced.

Hall also revealed that although the facial recognition will look like something out of a sci-fi movie, it will ease the frustration for users when Touch ID doesn’t properly work under wet conditions.

He also noted that facial recognition could prove to be more secure, giving users the confidence to use Apple Pay.

The note given to MacRumors also suggests the 3D laser scanner could be used for other applications, such as augmented reality.

‘One obvious and potentially most compelling use would be AR/VR experiences in which the user’s hands and other real world objects are being scanned and integrated into a field of view provided by the iPhone mounted into a Google Daydream-like headset,’ Hall wrote in the note.

‘This would open up many interesting entertainment and gaming experiences not available today and might give Apple something extra in an AR/VR accessory compared to Google and others.’

The note given to MacRumors also suggests the 3D laser scanner could be used for other applications, such as augmented reality. the firm could announced the handset as early as the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference on June 5

Hall also believes that a 3D scanning API could be on the horizon for developers, which could use it to do ‘everything from determining your shoe size for online orders to helping make sure you are properly fitted on your bike.’

Sticking with Apple’s strict timeline for releasing its products, Hall expects the iPhone to be unveiled later this year – the firm could announced the handset as early as the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference on June 5.

And this would be the first time Apple has revealed any of its hardware at the conference since 2010.