Apple has 2-year lead in the 3D sensing technology behind Face ID

Most Android phones will have to wait until 2019 to duplicate the 3D sensing feature behind Apple s Face ID security, three major parts producers have told Reuters, handicapping Samsung and others on a technology that is set to be worth billions in revenue over the next few years. The development of new features for the estimated 1.5 billion smart phones shipped annually has been at the heart of the battle for global market share over the past decade, with Apple, bolstered by its huge R&D budget, often leading. When the iPhone 5S launched with a fingerprint-sensing home button in September 2013, for example, it took its biggest rival Samsung until just April of the next year to deliver its own in the Galaxy S5, with others following soon after. Most Android phones will have to wait until 2019 to duplicate the 3D sensing feature behind Apple s Face ID security, three major parts producers have told Reuters. The 3D sensing technology is expected to enhance the next generation of phones, enabling accurate facial recognition as well as secure biometrics for payments, gesture sensing, and immersive shopping and gaming experiences.