• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military

2

Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there

3

'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032

1

Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military

2

Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there

3

'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032
TechChange the World

Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone X’s 3D Cameras Look Like Game Changers

Robert Hackett
By
Robert Hackett
Robert Hackett
Down Arrow Button Icon
Robert Hackett
By
Robert Hackett
Robert Hackett
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 12, 2017, 6:06 PM ET

Apple has built its new iPhones, the iPhone 8 models and the futuristic iPhone X, with improved cameras and augmented reality capabilities.

The company finally unveiled the phone details during an event at Apple’s new Cupertino Calif., campus on Tuesday. The new line of sleek devices—iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X (pronounced as iPhone “ten”)—differ in their features and price tags, but one consistent trait among them was turbocharged visuals.

“Perhaps the most beloved feature of every new generation of iPhone is the cameras,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s chief marketer, in detailing the improvements. “People love taking photos.”

First, here’s what the models have in common. Each of the phones has souped up lenses, image processing power, and display capabilities. Each comes equipped with retina HD displays (4.7 inches for the iPhone 8, 5.5 inches for iPhone 8 Plus, and 5.8 inches for iPhone X), automatic light-correcting photo technology (or TrueTone, as it is called by Apple), and 12 Megapixel sensors—meaning they capture information on the order of 12 million pixels, resulting in better lighting and more accurate, vivid colors.

Another big improvement: Apple embedded within its phones a new kind of computer chip, called A11 Bionic. The addition allows the gadgets’ cameras to render graphics faster and focus more quickly in poor lighting while also boosting image sharpness and texture, Schiller said.

The chip is “designed to accelerate 3D apps and games” as well as apps that rely on machine learning with its greater processing power, Schiller said. He showed off a few examples: one game that involved a robot vanquishing a flying monster, a Major League Baseball app that overlaid athlete statistics on players in the field, and another that projected a star map in the sky.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter

Now for the differences. iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X, unlike the iPhone 8, come with dual cameras, one wide-angle (f 1.8 aperture) and one telephoto (f 2.8 aperture) lens. Two cameras, if you didn’t guess, are better than one.

The added cameras enable the more upscale phone models to come with a test version of a “portrait lighting” mode” which mimics some of the contoured lighting effects that professional photographers achieve with specialized equipment. On iPhone 8 Plus, this portrait lighting feature is limited to its back-facing cameras.

iPhone X, on the other hand, is jammed with all sorts of sensors to give it an edge over the other iPhone models—including the ability to take portrait mode photos on its front-facing camera. The front camera also has depth and other sensors that enable it to recognize people’s faces so they may unlock their phones merely with a glance, rather than needing a fingerprint as with TouchID.

[fortune-brightcove videoid=5574100030001]

IPhone X also comes with an OLED, or “organic light-emitting diode,” screen that brightens without needing a backlight. iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus use LCD, or “liquid crystal display,” screens that are generally thicker and present less realistic images.

The augmented reality tech, which superimposes computer graphics on the real world, is a new frontier for Apple. In addition to gaming and information-purveying app use cases (as mentioned above), the iPhone X’s powerful sensors allows for additional features.

Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, demonstrated one on stage: how to manipulate animated emojis, or “animojis,” with iPhone X’s camera. As Federighi moved his face and spoke, iPhone X’s camera and software tracked his expressions and a cartoon pile of poop replicated the gestures on screen.

[fortune-brightcove videoid=5573971655001]

Although this example is flippant, the underlying technology is what allows people to use their faces to unlock their phones, or to authorize Apple Pay payments.

John Hanke, CEO of Niantic, maker of the viral video game Pokémon Go, remarked in a blog post after the event that “some will conclude that AR is a gimmick that lacks real utility. That’s a bummer, because it really is the first step to something that is going to transform the world as we know it.”

Apple’s new phones have other features, like wireless charging and durable glass screens, but the cameras are of particular note. For image-conscious consumers, Instagram addicts, and AR buffs, they remain some of the most compelling reasons to upgrade.

The iPhone 8 starts at $699, iPhone Plus at $799, and iPhone X at $999. How much you dish out may depend on how much you care about the quality of your selfies—and the augmentation of your reality.

About the Author
Robert Hackett
By Robert Hackett
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconTwitter icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

Bridgit Mendler speaks on stage at Fortune Brainstorm Tech 2026 in Aspen, Colorado.
Startups & VentureBrainstorm Tech
The space economy’s next frontier is in ground infrastructure, Northwood Space CEO says
By Sebastian HerreraJune 10, 2026
1 hour ago
Digital sovereignty isn’t the same thing as digital isolation. Asia’s governments should be careful
Commentarydata sovereignty
Digital sovereignty isn’t the same thing as digital isolation. Asia’s governments should be careful
By Leonard LimJune 10, 2026
6 hours ago
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates (C) arrives for a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on June 10, 2026.
LawBill Gates
Gates testifies on Epstein: previous Fortune investigation reveals payments to his ex-girlfriend, $1M Microsoft deal
By Eva Roytburg, Joey Cappelletti, Hannah Schoenbaum and The Associated PressJune 10, 2026
7 hours ago
How the World Cup is a high-stakes stage for Big Tech’s AI push
NewslettersCIO Intelligence
How the World Cup is a high-stakes stage for Big Tech’s AI push
By John KellJune 10, 2026
8 hours ago
Anthropic accused of ‘secret sabotage’ as Claude Fable 5 silently limits capabilities for AI researchers and developers
AIAnthropic
Anthropic accused of ‘secret sabotage’ as Claude Fable 5 silently limits capabilities for AI researchers and developers
By Sharon GoldmanJune 10, 2026
9 hours ago
A 5-week course and a guaranteed job: Meta commits $115 million to solve the skilled-trades shortage stalling its AI build-out
Future of WorkMeta
A 5-week course and a guaranteed job: Meta commits $115 million to solve the skilled-trades shortage stalling its AI build-out
By Jacqueline MunisJune 10, 2026
9 hours ago

Most Popular

Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military
Asia
Pentagon accuses Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, three of China's biggest companies, of supporting the Chinese military
By Kate O'Keeffe and BloombergJune 8, 2026
2 days ago
Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there
Success
Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there
By Preston ForeJune 8, 2026
2 days ago
'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032
Economy
'We are rapidly running out of time': Watchdog sounds Social Security alarm after 22% cut confirmed for 2032
By Nick LichtenbergJune 9, 2026
1 day ago
Analysts expected oil to surge above $200 but China has quietly kept prices half of that—and can’t for much longer
Energy
Analysts expected oil to surge above $200 but China has quietly kept prices half of that—and can’t for much longer
By Sasha RogelbergJune 10, 2026
9 hours ago
Wall Street dumped nearly $1 trillion in tech stocks by midday—then clawed it back and bought peanut butter and paint
Investing
Wall Street dumped nearly $1 trillion in tech stocks by midday—then clawed it back and bought peanut butter and paint
By Eva RoytburgJune 9, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of June 9, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 9, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 9, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.