Here are the three secret features you didn’t know about on the iPhone X FaceID

THE FaceID on Apple’s forthcoming iPhone X has three secret features the company didn’t mention when it announced its premium flagship model.

THE COMPLETE removal of the fingerprint scanner and physical home button for Apple’s iPhone X was always going be a bold move.

When Apple decided to include the edge-to-edge OLED display on its tenth anniversary edition device, the cornerstone of the iPhone user experience was always going to change.

In place of the fingerprint scanner, Apple added facial scanning technology dubbed Face ID.

As the name suggests, the feature allows iPhone users unlock their device using the front-facing camera.

The FaceID works by projecting 30,000 infra-red dots on your face to check it against a stored image. Apple has also ensured FaceID works if you change your hairstyle, don a hat or wear glasses — so it will adapt to your face over time. It will also work in the dark.

However, it’s hard for this to be confirmed until months of use.

The FaceID uses Secure Enclave data protection technology and only has a one in 1,000,000 chance it can be hacked — Touch was one in 50,000.

While this sounds promising, users will have to wait for the product to be released to the public before it can really be tested against Apple’s security claims — hopefully it does live up.

Regardless of these questions, Apple’s website has since claimed the FaceID feature will do three tricks not mentioned at the flagship event in early September. These are:

• Reveal notification and messages for your eyes only

• Keep the screen lit when you’re reading

• Lower the volume of an alarm or ringer

Again, only time will tell how effective these tools actually are in real-world environments.

Aside from FaceID, the iPhone X has glass on the front and back with a surgical-grade stainless steel band around the sides. It is water and dust resistant and will come in space grey and silver.

The new Super Retina 5.8-inch Display offers the highest-pixel density ever seen on an iPhone — it also includes high dynamic range (HDR) in both Dolby Vision and HDR 10.

In terms of camera, the iPhone X has 12-megapixel cameras with larger and faster sensors, a new colour filter and deeper pixels. It also includes dual optical image stabilisation for better lowlight zoom, quad-LED TrueTone flash and has been tuned for augmented reality (AR) applications.

You can also kiss those painful charging cords goodbye, with the new model made to work with Qi wireless charging — although this can be a painfully slow process.

The iPhone X will be available in 64GB and 256GB for $A1579 and $A1829, respectively.

Pre-orders open on October 27 and shipping begins on November 3.

Will you be purchasing the iPhone X? Continue the conversation in the comments below or with Matthew Dunn on Facebook and Twitter.

Originally published as Here are the three secret features you didn’t know about on the iPhone X FaceID