Animoji and Memoji are a fun feature available on some iPhones and iPads. If you want to entertain your friends (and yourself) with cartoon animals, robots, aliens or ghosts that mimic your facial expressions and speak with your voice, or want to create a cartoon image of yourself to deliver your messages this is the feature you need!
You may be wondering what iPhones have Memoji and Animoji, where you can find Memoji and Animoji on your iPhone, and whether you can get the fun feature on an older iPhone. If you are, then you’ve come to the right place!
Does my iPhone have Memoji/Animoji?
The Animoji feature arrived with iOS 11 and Memoji with iOS 12. Initially the features were only available only on the X-series iPhones and the iPad Pro 11-inch or iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation). That’s any device that has the forward-facing True Depth camera used for Face ID.
However, one of the new features in iOS 13 when it arrived in September 2019 was the ability to create Memoji on older iPhones. With iOS 13 installed (or iPadOS on an iPad) you can create Memoji sticker packs on older iPhones, which are basically emoji’s that look like you.
iPhones and iPads that can make Memoji/Animoji
It depends on whether you want an animated Memoji or Animoji. The animation – where the character mimics your movements – requires the True Depth camera, which is a feature of the X-series iPhones and beyond.
- iPhone X
- iPhone XR
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPad Pro 11-inch
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation)
Right now only those iPhones and iPads with front-facing cameras are capable of creating an Animoji or Memoji recording – other devices can play them back and share them with others.
If all you want is to create an emoji that looks like you, known as a Memoji sticker, then all you need is any iPhone that runs iOS 13 and has an A9 chip or newer. Apple says: “All devices with an A9 chip or later will support Memoji and Animoji sticker packs”. That’s the following phones:
- iPhone SE
- iPhone 6s and 6s Plus
- iPhone 7 and 7 Plus
- iPhone 8 and 8 Plus
On those phones you will be able to create a Memoji that looks just like you (there will be more customisation options than there were in iOS 12) and then get a Sticker Pack of emojis that use your face that will appear anywhere you can access Emoji.
Where are Memoji/Animoji on my iPhone?
We have a complete guide to making memoji and a guide to making animoji on your iPhone, so we recommend reading them for more information.
You’ll find the Memoji/Animoji feature in the Messages app in iOS 12 and iOS 13.
In iOS 13 the Memoji/Animoji creator will still be inside Messages but once you have created your Sticker Pack that will be available anywhere you can access emoji.
How to get Memoji/Animoji on an older iPhone
If you’re willing to look further afield, it’s possible to create animated emoji recordings on older iPhones and even non-iOS smartphones. These won’t officially be Animoji or Memoji, but depending on how shameless the third-party app developer has been in its imitation, they’re likely to be a close approximation.
Our experience suggests that because they do not have access to Apple’s sophisticated facial-tracking sensor array they are not quite as accurate at copying the movements of your face.
Let’s look at a few Animoji alternatives.
MrrMrr
This was an odd case. MrrMrr appeared to straight-up rip off Apple’s collection of Animoji – panda, poop, cat and so on – yet not only was it approved to appear on the App Store, it was actually selected as app of the day at one point last autumn.
But the penny appears to have dropped since then, and nowadays MrrMrr has a far more limited selection of emoji filters. (The pug dog is quite good.) There are somewhat more realistic lion and koala faces available in the Masks section, and it appears in the app drawer in Messages, just like Animoji.
The app’s free on the App Store, too. (And also available on Android.)
MSQRD
MSQRD doesn’t copy Animoji directly, and its graphics are less cartoony, but offers a similar face-tracking effect.
Tap Catalog, then select Animals. There’s a decent panda, tiger and jaguar (or possibly leopard), and the orangutan is fantastic.
Free on the App Store. (And also on Android.)
Emoji Me Face Maker
This one’s a little different. Rather than sophisticated face-tracking, it lets you create your own emoji, much like Apple’s own Memoji (or Samsung’s AR Emoji), which will be animated in pre-scripted ways. These custom animations are accessible via the app drawer in Messages.
It’s free on the App Store.
Author: David Price, Editor
David has loved the iPhone since covering the original 2007 launch; later his obsession expanded to include iPad and Apple Watch. He offers advice to owners (and prospective owners) of these devices.