The latest iOS 12 features rivalling SnapChat

Apple’s iOS 12 includes camera features set to rival SnapChat.

Showcasing the product at its Annual Worldwide Developers Conference alongside the iPhone X, Apple announced iOS 12’s iMessages camera will host a collection of sticker packs, style transfers, drawn shapes, Animoji, the reality feature that lets you put a digital mask over your face, and the new personalised avatar Emoji, which can be used without leaving the texting app.

Visual communication has increased since emojis hit our apps, due to the rise of visual tools inside social networks and messaging platforms. A study by Facebook last year suggested that those who use forms of visual communication rate their conversations as ‘great’ more often than non-visual communicators.

When Apple first introduced Animoji alongside the iPhone X, the characters available were limited to Animoji’s like cats and dogs. They have now expanded the feature in iOS 12 with four new animated emojis, including a ghost, a tiger, a koala and a T-rex. These features will also be available for Facetime conversations.

The most interesting feature in this department though, is the endless possibilities of Memoji, which lets you customise your own digital masks to whatever you like. These animated avatars mimic your facial expressions and head movements. Emoji are customisable to look like you – or anyone you want – much like SnapChat’s Bitmoji characters.   

The update for iOS 12 joins the race in customised emoji, a popular feature that companies like Samsung and Snapchat are both chasing. SnapChat purchased Bitmoji for $64 million in 2016, while Samsung launched the AR Emoji last March for the Galaxy S9, which uses your front-facing camera to automatically create a 3D emoji.