Himax Technologies, one of Apple’s suppliers, has reportedly started shipping one of the key components for the iPhone X’s Face ID sensor to Apple.

Alongside the edge-to-edge Super Retina display of the new handset, Face ID is one of the most attention grabbing features of the new iPhone. However, production problems have also made it one of Apple’s biggest pain points — and a reason why supplies of the iPhone X are likely to be so limited early on.

The component which Himex has reportedly started shipping to Apple is a wafer-level optics (WLO) chip, used for facial authentication. Himax and partner ChipMOS Technologies are said to be gearing up for a busy 2018, based on the likelihood of rival Android companies also looking to acquire similar facial recognition technology for their handsets.

iPhone X Face ID production issues

As noted, previous reports have suggested that Face ID components have been in disappointingly short supply, due to low yield rates. As a result, just “tens of thousands” of iPhone X handsets have supposedly been produced daily, compared to predicted iPhone X preorders of 40-50 million. If that’s the case, it’s been suggested that iPhone X supply won’t meet demand until way into 2018.

However, today’s report indicates that component yield rates may have improved considerably, particularly if companies like Himax Technologies think they can also service Android handset makers in addition to Apple.

How much of a selling point for you is the new Face ID facial recognition technology on the iPhone X? Would you mind waiting the extra time in order to get your hands on a phone with facial authentication, or are you planning to settle for an iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus (or even not upgrade at all)? Leave your comments below.

Source: Digitimes