Apple has unveiled a new type of Animoji dubbed Memoji that lets you create your very own virtual avatars in iOS 12.

The new feature will look familiar to anyone that's used Snapchat's Bitmoji app or Samsung's AR Emoji feature, itself a ripoff of Animoji.

1

Still with us? Good. Memoji basically lets you create a cartoon version of yourself that mimics your facial movements using the iPhone X's TrueDepth camera.

There'll be plenty of customisation options, including a skin tone selector, different hair styles and hair colours, and even accessories.

Plus it will all be in real-time, scanning your face as you build and be available in the new Group FaceTime calling feature (also announced today at WWDC).

You can save multiple Memoji, for all your different personalities, to use at will.

There's also four new Animoji on the way with tongue detection – meaning they can mimic your tongue wagging – they include a koala, tiger, T-Rex, and (in another nod to Snapchat) a ghost.

Best of all, you'll be able to don your creation over your face in Apple's new Group FaceTime calling feature with up to 32 people conversing at once.

Just imagine the animated mayhem.

In addition, there are new effects coming to Messages, including shapes, text and filters all available via the Messages camera.

Most read in tech

AMAZON, AMAZ-OFF

Major Amazon app to close for 200 MILLION in weeks – you may be due refund

MUSK BE JOKING

Twitter 'down' as thousands of X users report issues

SHELL SHOCK

US unveils first supersonic artillery shell that can hit targets 100 miles away

LI-VID

Facebook users must check their account NOW or face precious videos being DELETED

To access them, you'll have to pull up the camera while texting and tap the star button.

All these new updates will be available in iOS 12, which lands this Autumn as a free software update for the iPhone and iPad.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.