With the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+, Samsung is taking a cue out of Apple’s book and copying the iPhone X’s Animoji feature. Samsung is calling the feature AREmoji and here’s everything you need to know about it. 

What is AR Emoji?

Animated emojis are going to be all the rage in 2018, with Apple starting the trend with the iPhone X last year. Samsung is now jumping on that bandwagon, though the company’s approach is clearly not as technologically superior as that of Apple. Samsung’s implementation of AREmoji relies on the front facing 8MP f/1.7 AF shooter on the Galaxy S9 and S9+.

To start using AR Emoji, you will first have to set it up. A relatively simple process, this requires yourself to take a picture of yourself smiling with your mouth closed. Then, with the help of machine learning and the captured data, the Galaxy S9 creates an animated cartoon character that closely matches you. The end result is similar to Snapchat’s Bitmoji rather than Apple’s Animoji. Like Animoji, AR Emoji can also capture your facial expressions, though if the early hands-on demos are anything to go by, it does not work properly.

https://youtu.be/3Hla9LsYfrg

You can also customize the created AR Emoji including its hairstyle, sunglasses, skin color, and more. The created AR Emoji can be quickly accessed in the messages app and from inside any app using the stock keyboard app. You can also share AR Emojis in GIF or PNG format thereby making it easier to share. It is also possible to use AR Emoji as ‘stickers’ with compatible apps.

Samsung also has an interesting approach with AR Emoji. If you do not want the AR Emoji character to be based on you, the company offers you the option to use Disney’s popular Mickie or Minnie as alternative characters as well. Samsung did not talk much about this in its presentation so it is unclear if the Galaxy S9’s AR Emoji feature has more Disney characters or not.

Read: Samsung Galaxy S9 – Top Features to Know About

What do you think about AR Emoji on the Samsung Galaxy S9? The feature is certainly not as impressive as Animoji on the iPhone X but then the Korean company at least offers an alternative to the feature unlike every other OEM out there.