#3 is mistaken. https://www.imore.com/yes-animoji-uses-truedepth-camera-system-i...

yeldarb · on Dec 4, 2017

I've done some experimenting with it in my own apps.

I was really surprised how well it does even when covering up the IR sensor prior to opening the app.

I don't doubt that they are using the IR data to improve things. But it does "good enough" without.

JustSomeNobody · on Dec 4, 2017

I take anything Rene says with a very large grain of salt.

> The reason for the misconception comes from the implementation: The IR system only (currently) fires periodically to create and update the depth mask. The RGB camera has to capture persistently to track movements and match expressions. In other words, cover the IR system and the depth mask will simply stop updating and likely, over time, degrade. Cover the RGB, and the tracking and matching stops dead.

"...likely, over time, degrade."

1) He doesn't know.

2) It's Animoji, so why would it matter if it did degrade? There is already a stock 3D image of the Poop. It simply needs the RGB camera to track where your facial features are.