Face ID for Mac Remains Distant Despite Years of Rumors

[seek3r]

My Lenovo work laptop in 2016 had Windows Hello which works similar to Face ID using the camera + IR. I don't understand why this hasn't appeared on Mac especially once the notch was added.

The faceid module is thicker than a macbook’s screen

 

[platinumaqua]

Somehow PC makers figured it out with Windows Hello IR

 

[CIA]

I'd like to see both. Extra security option, you need face and touch to unlock a machine.

 

[jayducharme]

The thing about FaceID on a Mac is that it would work with a MacBook, an iMac and maybe with a Studio Display. But Mac Studios, Mac Pros and Mac minis would be left out. So perhaps Apple doesn't want to fragment their Mac line in that way.

 

[jole]

While I think there are valid reasons for sticking to fingerprint readers: consistency and cost are two valid ones.

One problem pointed above is that face id does not fit in a thin macbook lid. This problem can be solved:

• Keep the current camera as-is
• Add a face id to laptop body — it does not need to be looking at the face from "optimal for video conferencing" angle. This can be easily tested. Place your phone on a table and activate face id.

 

[subjonas]

Even if there would be Face ID on my Mac, I wouldn't use it. I rather use fingerprint sensors. If they have both, fine, so I can switch Face ID off but still use the sensor. I don't see what the big advantage is over fingerprint sensors. Maybe I am too haptic.

I like the granular control of Touch ID. It will only unlock when I want it to. I may not always want my Mac to unlock if I just glance at it. I can foresee accidental unlocks which will cause me more work to have to lock it again. And if I have to press a key to initiate the Face ID unlock, then that's functionally no different than Touch ID.

 

[HMWausau]

Obviously the emitter is too deep for a laptop screen and they don't want to split the feature between iMacs and laptops.

Yeah, the last thing we want is a camera bump on the laptops too!!

 

[ultratiem]

Companies throughout the history of time: Nah, we aren’t putting that in people actually want that. Instead we are going to add a subscription service!

 

[ultratiem]

I like the granular control of Touch ID. It will only unlock when I want it to. I may not always want my Mac to unlock if I just glance at it. I can foresee accidental unlocks which will cause me more work to have to lock it again. And if I have to press a key to initiate the Face ID unlock, then that's no different than Touch ID.

People breaking their backs trying to explain why a good idea, isn’t.

What would you say the downsides are of curing cancer or free insulin are, sir??? *Stares intently

 

[HMWausau]

And yet there is still a hideous notch on every single Mac laptop being sold today. How clueless must Tim Cook be to be OK with that?

The notch replaces the mostly unused portion of the menubar. Stuff filled in from either side and rarely used the middle section.

In full screen mode, it just doesn't use the portion of screen that is dedicated to menubar use. Effectively, it makes a non full screen operation just a little taller. It's a great compromise, I'd say.

 

[ikramerica]

Why is it so hard when phones have had this for years!

I don’t use an Apple monitor. So there’s that.

 

[subjonas]

People breaking their backs trying to explain why a good idea, isn’t.

What would you say the downsides are of curing cancer or free insulin are, sir??? *Stares intently

You haven't given me any arguments here to respond to. I welcome any specific challenges to the points I made.

 

[onenorth]

Auto-unlocking with the Apple Watch works well for me. Fingerprint is good too. FaceID would be yet a third way. How about voice print?

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Doesn't really need it, especially when unlock with Apple Watch is a thing.

 

[zedsdead]

Face ID
Cellular
Touch Screen
OLED

Plenty of upgrades for Macs that aren't even related to new chipsets. Come on Apple - lets go.

 

[mlayer]

The thing about FaceID on a Mac is that it would work with a MacBook, an iMac and maybe with a Studio Display. But Mac Studios, Mac Pros and Mac minis would be left out. So perhaps Apple doesn't want to fragment their Mac line in that way.

Solution:

 

[p.willis]

The regular screen cam is NOT the same as the FaceID sensor in phones.

They would have to add the sensor and cost in to new hardware.

Guess there's not a lot of requests for it.

 

[Eorlas]

Why is it so hard when phones have had this for years!

look at your phone. look at your laptop screen. examine the geometrical difference between a fat rectangle, and a thing rectangle. consider the elementary physics of fitting the same camera assembly in 1/4th the space.

hope this helps

 

[MRSugarD]

Face ID incorporated into the bezel of the iMac sounds reasonable und convenient BUT I find it somehow not so easy to use on a movable lid of a MacBook as it will have to cover many angles and may become more inconvenient than everyone may expect. The immovable and conveniently placed Touch ID shouldn‘t be underestimated and may turn out to be the superior choice.

 

[jakebrosy]

“In 2021, Apple marketing VP Tom Boger said that there's no Face ID on the Mac because ‌Touch ID‌ is more convenient. Users' hands are already on the keyboard, so Apple feels that ‌Touch ID‌ makes more sense.”

That amazing piece of logic implies that our faces are not already on our heads and pointed at the device we are trying to operate.

What do they call that? Oh yeah, the Reality Distortion Field.

I’m not saying I want or need Face ID on my Macs, but THAT logic is flawed.

 

[Le Big Mac]

*Worker 1: locks screen to hide commercially sensitive information*

*Worker 2: was that news about the merger?*

*Mac with faceid: unlocks*

*Worker 1: stop looking!*

Look at worker two instead of the screen!

 

[platinumaqua]

I like the granular control of Touch ID. It will only unlock when I want it to. I may not always want my Mac to unlock if I just glance at it. I can foresee accidental unlocks which will cause me more work to have to lock it again. And if I have to press a key to initiate the Face ID unlock, then that's functionally no different than Touch ID.

The same could be said for preferring iPhones/iPads with Touch ID yet a lot of people here furiously disagree with that.

I'm feeling it's just fans being fans giving excuses for why Apple doesn't do a particular thing.

P.S. Side button touch ID (from the iPads) for iPhones would be really nice and the island/notch could be easily shrunk with no effort.

 

[darngooddesign]

And yet there is still a hideous notch on every single Mac laptop being sold today. How clueless must Tim Cook be to be OK with that?

Meh, the Notch literally doesn't bother me so I’m in no rush for it to go away.

 

[Justin Cymbal]

so the feature may remain "years away" for the next decade.

In 2021, Apple marketing VP Tom Boger said that there's no Face ID on the Mac because Touch ID is more convenient. Users' hands are already on the keyboard, so Apple feels that Touch ID makes more sense

I highly doubt that this is the actual reason for why Apple has chosen not to allow users the ability to unlock their Macs via Face ID

Instead, the REAL reason MAY be that Apple does not feel comfortable incorporating this ‘feature’ into macOS……because the current hardware LACKS the technology needed to meet Apple’s STRICT hardware security standards (MSFT Windows does already allow a user to enable & unlock via this means)…..only 🍎 knows the REAL reason behind this decision and whatever ‘statements’ they put out publicly could indeed be vastly different than the actual truth regarding their reasoning behind their decision making on this

IF the actual reasoning IS because of security concerns (which I believe it is) one potential way to go about increasing the security of Face ID could be to ONLY allow Face ID to EVEN ATTEMPT to scan a user’s face IF (and ONLY IF) the 🖥️user’s iPhone is detected within a 30ft proximity OF this Mac (that is in the process of being unlocked)

If the user’s iPhone 📲 IS NOT detected (within a set geofence proximity to the Mac) then the 🖥️ won’t even BEGIN to proceed with the secondary process of enabling the camera, to THEN scan the user’s face - the authentication process will simply REMAIN in the initial password-entry phase

Going about it in this manner would ELIMINATE the notion of the Mac 💻 potentially being in the possession of the wrong hands and would IN-EFFECT serve as a form of a hardware-secure (two-factor) protocol via means of 💻/🖥️ to 📲 (ad-hoc) communication over Bluetooth, NFC (or any new & secure🍎proprietary hardware communication protocol) that Apple could develop & build into their future hardware (for the very purpose of solving this)

Apple in the meantime also inform users of the current potential downsides of using Face ID over Touch ID (within the initial Mac set-up process) whereby the currently available Mac hardware security renders the use of Face🆔 LESS secure (over Touch ID) thereby empowering Mac user with the CHOICE to make an informed decision for whichever security measure best suits their needs (and/or use case)

Many Mac 🖥️ users exclusively use their Macs at home, where security issues are obviously either a non-issue (or much less of an issue) than an iPhone constantly carried around in public (where there is the potential for it to either be lost or stolen) and so Face ID SHOULD be allowed to be chosen & and enabled (in these particular use cases) especially if additional security measures are incorporated (into the Face ID authentication process) similar to the above ⬆️ methodology (or any new hardware proprietary methods that🍎choses to develop) to ensure that Face🆔 meets Apple’s high security standards and can be used to enable a more CONVENIENT authentication choice for iMacs, Mac Studios (or Mac Pros) that never (or rarely) leave a users home

 

[klasma]

The thing about FaceID on a Mac is that it would work with a MacBook, an iMac and maybe with a Studio Display. But Mac Studios, Mac Pros and Mac minis would be left out. So perhaps Apple doesn't want to fragment their Mac line in that way.

Apple sells keyboards with Touch ID, they could sell a “webcam” with Face ID just the same. Windows Hello works with external peripherals as well.