RIP Bitmoji: Apple debuts ‘Memoji’ with iOS 12
Snapchat may be shaking, because Apple will now let you become an Animoji with their new Memoji feature.
You'll remember Animojis as those 3D emojis capable of replicating your facial expressions and voice. The key difference with Memoji? Instead of being a bear or tiger, you can be yourself.
You might be doing a double take with Samsung's AR Emoji, but don't. While similar, Apple's Memoji look much less awkward, and they allow for more customizations.
As demoed on stage at WWDC 18, you'll be able to create your own Memoji in the Messages app in iOS 12. (The new OS should launch in the fall.) You start off by choosing skin color and hairstyle. From there, you can customize almost every other feature, from earrings to glasses and much more.
As with Bitmoji, you can change up your outfit for special occasions. But Apple takes it one step further with Face Detection and Tongue Detection — these will truly take your Animoji game to the next level, thanks to the TrueDepth camera on the iPhone X. It manages to map your face through sensors and then replicates it into an Animoji or Memoji.
You can use Memojis in messages, like current Animojis, as part of Animoji drawer. For iOS 12, you will also be able to place them as stickers and even use your Memoji in FaceTime calls. (I should mention that Group FaceTime for up to 32 people is coming with iOS 12. Wow.)
The biggest takeaway so far? Memojis look fun and fresh, not creepy like some other attempts — Samsung's AR Emojis, for instance. Those also didn't take off as much as the phone giant was hoping, maybe because of exactly that. And while Snapchat's Bitmoji offer customization and are popular, they don't have face detection.
It seems that both AR Emoji and Bitmoji have a bit of catching up to do.
Apple's Memojis will launch with iOS 12 this fall.
