Apple Acquires Israeli Firm RealFace Specializing in Facial Recognition - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Acquires Israeli Firm RealFace Specializing in Facial Recognition

by

Apple has bought Israeli startup RealFace, a cybersecurity and machine learning firm specializing in facial recognition technology.

The Times of Israel reported on Sunday that the Tel Aviv-based company, founded in 2014, was snapped up by Apple for an estimated $2 million, while Hebrew-language Calcalist said the deal was worth "several million dollars".

Screen Shot 2 1
RealFace's website is currently offline, but according to promotional material, the startup had developed a unique facial recognition technology that integrates artificial intelligence and "brings back human perception to digital processes". RealFace's software is said to use proprietary IP in the field of "frictionless face recognition" that allows for rapid learning from facial features.

The Israeli startup also developed a now-defunct app called Pickeez, which selected and collated a user's best photos across various platforms using the RealFace recognition software.

Demo of RealFace's face recognition software

According to iPhone 8 rumors, Apple may ditch Touch ID along with the physical home button, in favor of a facial recognition-capable front-facing 3D laser scanner, although with the RealFace acquisition coming at such a late time, it's unlikely that the any of the startup's technology will feature.

RealFace is the fourth Israel-based firm Apple is known to have acquired. In 2011 it bought flash memory maker Anobit for a reported $400 million, then in November 2013 it acquired 3D sensor company PrimeSense for an estimated $345 million. Most recently in 2015, Apple bought LinX for around $20 million.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

8 CarPlay Features in iOS 27 Feature

Which iOS 27 CarPlay Features Actually Work in Your Car?

Thursday September 17, 2026 4:17 am PDT by
In iOS 27, available now, CarPlay gets its biggest update in years, but some features depend on what type of car you have rather than your iPhone model. Some of the biggest additions won't do anything in the vast majority of vehicles on the road today. Here's how the new features pan out. Works in Any CarPlay Vehicle Custom widgets: In iOS 27, CarPlay is no longer limited to Apple's handful ...
Read Full Article • 50 comments
Apple Watch New Charging Puck

Here's Why a New Apple Watch Charging Puck Was Just Released

Wednesday September 16, 2026 8:53 am PDT by
The new Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 have hardware changes that allow for faster charging, but you will need to use the new version of the Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger included in the box in order to achieve this boost. If you need extra ones for your own charging stands or travel or so forth, Apple released the new version of the charger on its online store last week, with...
Read Full Article • 108 comments
ios272anniversary

iOS 27.2 Could Save Your Marriage

Wednesday September 16, 2026 1:32 pm PDT by
The iOS 27.2 beta that Apple released today adds a feature that reminds you it's your anniversary when you call someone, as long as you've added the date in the Contacts app. On the date of your anniversary, when you go to call the person, you'll see a reminder that it's an important day so you don't forget to say something. The anniversary alert uses Call Context, a feature Apple added in...
Read Full Article • 82 comments

Top Rated Comments

Tycho24 Avatar
Tycho24
125 months ago
Dear MR,
While I enjoy these articles.... PLEASE stop mentioning the incredibly unlikely scenario of loss of TouchID.

Edit:
When TouchID came out; nobody was saying: "and Apple is removing the ability to use a passcode; you'll be forced to use this feature, whether it's buggy or not"- so I'm unsure why this time around everyone has glommed into this RIDICULOUS rumor, so far only postulated by a single "analyst", based here in America, that has no insider info, or ties w/ the production factories. It really reads like his personal opinion based on nothing other than that.... it's his opinion.
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Paul Dawkins Avatar
Paul Dawkins
125 months ago
No touch id no buy.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
R
Rob_2811
125 months ago
No touch id no buy.
It will definitely have Touch ID in some form. Nobody is going to be using facial recognition to authenticate in store Apple Pay purchases.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chr1s60 Avatar
chr1s60
125 months ago
No touch id no buy.
No way they ditch touch ID. If facial recognition is involved in the next phone it will be as an added feature, not a replacement.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
adepew Avatar
adepew
125 months ago
Touch ID is so convenient. It has made iPhones infinitely more productive vs passcodes. Also, how well does this work under differing conditions? Low light? What if I have a beard and then I shave my face or vice versa? How fast would it work as Touch ID is lightning quick. I also prefer a physical button or at least the imprint for one (which unfortunately looks like it is going away). It's going to take some real convincing for me to say Touch ID is ready for pasture. Hopefully this is in addition to Touch ID and not in place of Touch ID. I guess time will tell.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jmgregory1 Avatar
jmgregory1
125 months ago
I'm not sure how Apple could ditch Touch ID, given Apple Pay's reliance on it. I would think it could be very problematic to not only hold your iPhone next a store's payment terminal, but then make sure it's held at an angle that allows the camera to scan your face, if that is how they would make Touch ID work.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments