iPhone 13 Disappointed by the lack of TouchID on the iPhone 13

[Ethosik]

I don't deny that Apple has reversed course on some issues. But I would argue that those instances are less than those in which they ignored the customer.

If you have spent any time on the Apple forums you know that Apple buries criticism and problems and that they are aggressive at it. The best I can say is that Apple is SLOW at responding to customer pressure. They do respond as you've shown.

But citing your example of the MacPro trashcan, how many years was it before Apple introduced a new MP?

Two more things I'd argue. If Apple does respond it's more than likely in response to a company. Who was/is the primary user of MacPros? Business, particularly those in the design/professional industry. Apple responded because losing the business of the business customer was more of a threat.

The second thing I'd argue is that when Apple DOES respond it's the way they WANT. Yes, they will offer the solution to the problem but it may not be exactly the way it is expected.

So, ultimately you're right. Apple does respond. But when and how and to what kind of customer pressure is debatable.

I have spent a decade on these forums. Not sure what you are discussing here that Apple buries criticism. Are you referring to criticism on this forum? I did not know this was officially endorsed and operated by Apple Inc.

Everybody has complaints about everything. Does that mean Apple ignores it? You can never....EVER....make 100% of your customers happy. And if you try to, you will make others less happy. Its a never ending cycle. Some have issues, some dont. However the BIG issues, like the trash can Mac Pro and the ports on the laptops, are getting addressed. You also need to question initial complaints if they are just "growing pains" or not. The complaints in 2016 about USB-C only, was that just because it was new? I am sure they got a lot of complaints when they dropped the Floppy and disc drives. Doesn't mean Apple ignores them.

 

[Gin Gin]

I'm still on an iPhone 8…how well does FaceID work in a low light situation?

Works fine even in complete darkness.

 

[chanerz]

Touch id is so yesterday lol

 

[CEmajr]

I find it very hard to believe that Apple wanted their flagship X phone to have a notch at the top over a full screen design. If they could’ve gotten Touch ID into the screen in a way that was up to their standards then they would’ve done it. Face ID was decent alternative for what they couldn’t get done at the time. Other than for unlocking the phone, Touch ID tends to be better.
Now Apple is in a good position to wow the consumers with an actual full screen iPhone redesign with Touch ID likely embedded at a later date combined with Face ID and shatter sales records. Apple is genius.

 

[curtvaughan]

And not everyone has a watch, and the watch only works for unlocking the phone, not passwords for apps.

Good point - I have a FitBIt, which has an application for both iPhones and Android to summarize and analyze your activity data. It is about half the price of most Apple watches, probably less features (such as fancy display), and a battery life lasting for days. I'm okay with it. Would rather enter passwords, if needed, than spend money on watch so I can unlock my phone.

 

[curtvaughan]

There was a time in the late 90s when Apple got rid of the floppy drive. Oh the weeping and knashing of teeth. When Apple did away with the optical drive on the MacBook Air there was the same cry.

These are things the customer still wanted. I am an Apple user, but long ago figured out that Apple doesn't very much respond to user feedback or pressure.

Yes, I remember that decision. The floppy, by that time, was a staple technology that had become an albatross of a standard feature on PC' and Macs, due to it's speed and storage capacities being eclipsed by optical drives and other portable storage devices (Zip drives come to mind). That was a good decision by Apple, and timed well. The same can't be said for the removal of phone jacks and touch id for iPhones. Wired headphones are here to stay among sound enthusiasts, as at the middle and high ends they can't be matched by bluetooth headphones. To include headphone jacks and touch-id as iPhone features - at least right now - would be useful attractions for may people. Bluetooth and face-id could be available if the older technologies were allowed to co-exist on the device.

 

[Vratikranka]

Oh I forgot. If Face ID doesn’t work there’s no other way to get into the phone! That’s right! Not even a passcode will work!

So what you mean to tell me is, that you are too lazy to enter a 4-6 digit passcode once in a while?

I can go on and on as well….

thanks for reminding me that it's pointless to argue on the internet!

 

[aok75]

Where have you been? How can this be a surprise to you ?

 

[laszlo182]

Apple has released two iterations of their iPhones (12/13) during a worldwide pandemic where wearing masks have become the norm and their FaceID system is absolutely useless.

In the case of the iPhone 12, perhaps it was too late to implement TouchID on the power button but the lack of it on the iPhone 13 when they've had a ton of time to prepare for it is just disappointing. They seem to have no problem including it with some of their products like the new iPad mini 6, so why not the iPhone when it could benefit from TouchID the most? The countless amount of people I've seen taking off their masks, looking frustrated and having a poor experience from FaceID, is just sad and laughable.

TouchID and FaceID on an iPhone would be the ultimate convenience. Why not have the best of both worlds?

well good selling point for getting an apple watch

 

[CrazyForCashews]

well good selling point for getting an apple watch

That’s a terrible selling point for an Apple Watch.

 

[sunapple]

I find it very hard to believe that Apple wanted their flagship X phone to have a notch at the top over a full screen design. If they could’ve gotten Touch ID into the screen in a way that was up to their standards then they would’ve done it. Face ID was decent alternative for what they couldn’t get done at the time. Other than for unlocking the phone, Touch ID tends to be better.
Now Apple is in a good position to wow the consumers with an actual full screen iPhone redesign with Touch ID likely embedded at a later date combined with Face ID and shatter sales records. Apple is genius.

But TouchID in the power button would’ve been a much easier solution if they wanted a full screen phone… Although don’t forget the camera and sensors. True full screen is putting the cameras behind the screen, bet they will be trying for that. TouchID won’t come back to iPhone.

 

[toobravetosave]

Brave enough to drop touch ID and the headphone jack but not lightning cables? When apple inevitably reintroduces touch ID the very same people will once again laud any move apple makes.

 

[eyoungren]

I have spent a decade on these forums. Not sure what you are discussing here that Apple buries criticism. Are you referring to criticism on this forum? I did not know this was officially endorsed and operated by Apple Inc.

Everybody has complaints about everything. Does that mean Apple ignores it? You can never....EVER....make 100% of your customers happy. And if you try to, you will make others less happy. Its a never ending cycle. Some have issues, some dont. However the BIG issues, like the trash can Mac Pro and the ports on the laptops, are getting addressed. You also need to question initial complaints if they are just "growing pains" or not. The complaints in 2016 about USB-C only, was that just because it was new? I am sure they got a lot of complaints when they dropped the Floppy and disc drives. Doesn't mean Apple ignores them.

I am not speaking of MacRumors. I am speaking of https://discussions.apple.com/welcome

As an example, Back when the PowerBooik G4 was offered for sale there was a problem with the display for the 17" model. It concerned displays made in one factory. These displays were defective and started to show vertical lines shortly after purchase and use.

A discussion was started on the Apple forums. Shortly thereafter Apple deleted the thread. It then began to delete each thread that was started concerning this matter. Customers brought the issue to Apple's attention. They asked for a recall, Apple ignored them. It went so far as customers opening their own website for a recall in order to be heard. Apple continued to deny the problem - and nothing happened.

If you bring it up over there still, your thread gets deleted.

 

[DaffiDuck]

Apple has released two iterations of their iPhones (12/13) during a worldwide pandemic where wearing masks have become the norm and their FaceID system is absolutely useless.

In the case of the iPhone 12, perhaps it was too late to implement TouchID on the power button but the lack of it on the iPhone 13 when they've had a ton of time to prepare for it is just disappointing. They seem to have no problem including it with some of their products like the new iPad mini 6, so why not the iPhone when it could benefit from TouchID the most? The countless amount of people I've seen taking off their masks, looking frustrated and having a poor experience from FaceID, is just sad and laughable.

TouchID and FaceID on an iPhone would be the ultimate convenience. Why not have the best of both worlds?

The only reason I never got the 10s XR 11 12 13. Was because of no Touch ID and I bet there are thousands of people like myself that can't stand FACE ID as it is just so stupid and hard to use. Yes TOUCH ID is insecure as when someone is sleeping just get their finger and unlock. But at least giving us a choice of Touch ID and Face ID would be amazing.

I think the 14 will have as its a full design change and if no notch a new screen and with a new screen an under screen Touch ID But we shall see that

 

[DaffiDuck]

Agreed. What was the reason for removing the floppy drive? A better medium, with more space and speed was introduced.

Did I lose all my fingers when Apple released Face ID? No. Does Face ID improve things? No, not when I have a mask on. Face ID is essentially useless 90% of the time since I have my mask on a lot. Therefore, it is not any better than Touch ID. I still have my fingers, its still an approved biometric authentication method by many industries. Therefore, it has ZERO relation to comparisons to floppy drives.

TouchID is not dead Apple could innovate on it and when the phone is in the palm of your


You are correct apple could have have made Touch ID even fast the fastest Touch ID in the world and innovated on it made it even secure that is now. But do they ???? TouchID is not dead as it would not be in the iPads lmao it is coming back !!!! it must come back

 

[Jakewilk]

I'm still on an iPhone 8…how well does FaceID work in a low light situation?

Face ID requires no ambient light to work; it’s all IR based and the IR dot projector is part of the true depth camera system

 

[3Rock]

Oh I forgot. If Face ID doesn’t work there’s no other way to get into the phone! That’s right! Not even a passcode will work!

So what you mean to tell me is, that you are too lazy to enter a 4-6 digit passcode once in a while?

I can go on and on as well….

Actually you can just pull down your mask for 1 or 2 seconds. Walla you’re in.

 

[Waterman316]

Actually you can just pull down your mask for 1 or 2 seconds. Walla you’re in.

Yea, I know. But some people are super sensitive about the subject so I just wasn’t going to go there.

 

[svenmany]

Looks like I hit you in the right spot!

It’s very sad to see people immediately jumping to conclusions and not taking into consideration a single word of criticism or logic.

I'm sorry you took the bait. The post you responded to was just an insult targeting some undefined population - "the OP and many as such". Your thread is a good one. You don't need to "get a life already". Intelligent discussion is a good part of life.

Just because you raised a topic about something that disappointed you and many others, doesn't mean you'll always find something to be disappointed about; you didn't deserve such an accusation.

 

[CyBeRino]

I just switched from a 7 with TouchID to a 13 pro with FaceID, and one of the reasons I held off of upgrading was specifically TouchID, so I have an opinion on this.

For interactive use, i.e. holding your phone in your hand, looking at it to actually do something on it, FaceID is vastly superior to TouchID. Most of the time it's done its magic between you picking it up and swiping up to unlock, meaning it's seamless. It feels as if your phone was never locked to start with, but it was. Sometimes it takes a half second after swiping to do the unlock, depending on how you were holding it. I'm honestly surprised at how good it really is, and I never imagined it would be. FaceID also works perfectly while you're wearing gloves which is important for those of us in climates that aren't warm year-round.

But: for using Apple Pay, TouchID was the superior option. There is a big difference in the smoothness of a transaction at the register if you can grab your phone out of your pocket/purse/whatever with your thumb on the home button, hold it in front of the reader, and put it back versus having to hold it up so it can see your face, press the power button twice and only *then* be able to hold it up to the reader (and if you mess up the order of operations, it's worse.)

TouchID also enabled some other use-cases like checking your phone's notifications (or some such thing) with it on the table in front of you, without having to pick it up but frankly I feel like those are mostly just habits developed because it enabled us to do that specifically because it was in the home button, and TouchID in the power button won't really change that. TouchID on the power button would still work great for Apple Pay though. And of course, TouchID works better in the presence of face coverings like masks.

So yeah my opinion is that they should add power button TouchID to iPhones, specifically for Apple Pay and situations where FaceID can't see your face because it's obscured.

 

[Drosera]

I'm going to miss Touch ID when I upgrade from SE to 12 Mini. Placing your thumb on the power button when picking up so the phone is unlocked by the time you view the screen... brilliant IMO.

But open to changing my mind when I experience Face ID too.

 

[3Rock]

Me thinks that the iPad mini has the touch ID on the start button, why can’t Apple put it on the iPhone as well as Face ID?

 

[janeauburn]

TouchID and FaceID on an iPhone would be the ultimate convenience. Why not have the best of both worlds?

Good point. There's no excuse.

 

[janeauburn]

I also don't like the idea of my face getting blasted with some invisible rays every time I want to use the phone.

 

[CrazyForCashews]

Good point. There's no excuse.

It seems like many people didn't read the last line in the first post.

FaceID is a very cool and convenient authentication system but it is not perfect, and that is where TouchID can fill in the gaps. Having both FaceID and TouchID on an iPhone would be a dream. A match made in heaven.