Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
TouchID can be just as fast and more secure. But anyway, faceID doesn't work at all if you need to be wearing a mask right now. I don't use either in Windows, I just use a PIN or a password, it always works, with a mask, with a dirty finger, whatever.
Agreed. There are many times I need to revert to a PIN to get the job done!
 
Per ifixit MBP teardown:

"Speaking of Face ID, if you thought surely it would fit right into that display notch, we have news. Here’s a Face ID module from our recent iPhone 13 teardown, alongside the MacBook Pro’s display for comparison. These sensor modules have literally been reaching new heights, and seemingly won’t be squeezing inside that uber-thin display lid anytime soon."


I don't mind the notch, but given the tear down X-ray...Apple could have made it less obtrusive and accomplished the same effect.

I agree with what others have said about FaceID here...as a "blanket" unlock, it is not an instructive method for completing tasks like TouchID is. There is simply no way to distinguish/control/command individual intentions with FaceID alone other than a universal "Unlock." Now, I certainly wouldn't mind if the MBP had both FaceID and TouchID, but I'm glad the new MBP doesn't have only FaceID.

For those that want FaceID...how would you feel if Apple put a Camera Bump on the lid back of the new MBP just to accommodate the sensor. I know I would be pissed!

As for WIFI 6e, I'm a little disappointed by this one, but as with HDMI 2.1 and BT 5.1, there are likely component/scaling supply concerns that would have driven up both pricing and wait times. WIFI 6e also requires 4x4 MIMO antennas, unlike the 2x2 of WIFI 6...its a lot more complicated.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 88Keys and ericwn
Same.

If Face ID was to activate automatically like people assume, the user wouldn’t be able to control basic things like the login screen or purchases - they would just initiate. Therefore to get around this, you would still need to click on a button to tell MacOS that you want to, for instance, make a purchase.

Touch ID doesn’t have this issue because you have to actively choose to put your finger over the sensor to activate it; to me at least that actually seems like the more convenient option.

Finally there’s the value proposition. To fit Face ID into the screen mounting with a decent thickness, a lot of engineering feats would be required. Is it worth passing that cost of thickness and components onto the user for a feature that already exists well on the keyboard?
Exactly this. To maintain security, user input would still be required or the screen will unlock whenever it feels like it.

And if user input is needed, what does Face ID offer that Touch ID doesn’t?

I’m a big fan of Face ID on the iPhone. I could take it or leave it on the iPad but appreciate the added screen real estate it offers. I don’t see the point on a laptop.
 
The iPad Pro has no notch with thin bezels. You are looking at the wrong device if you see a notch.

I wouldn’t call the bezels thin. It’s just thick enough to accommodate Face ID, and definitely thicker than the MBP borders.
4841f87b45980fe07b8963b3ea57044a.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dustman
I don't understand why so many want Face ID on a MBP.
The way I use my M1 MacBook Air, having FaceId would be less convenient than TouchId for a lot of situations. I use my MBA in clamshell mode on my desktop connected to an external display very often. I did buy an external TouchId Apple keyboard for that use. What would be the equivalent for FaceId? Maybe a new Apple Thunderbolt display? That’s $1000+ vs $150-$180.

For purchases on my iPhone with FaceId, I have to click a button anyway so there is no convenience added there for the Mac if I have to click a button or tap a target with the trackpad/mouse. On my Mac, much of the use of TouchId is for password/authentication dialogs. Would FaceId proponents want that to happen automatically or again, would you need to click a button or tap a target on the dialog box? I don’t see any advantage there either.

The one place that FaceId would be better than TouchId is logging in on the MacBook. The FaceId module is an expensive component for just that one convenience.
 
Last edited:
I don’t understand why anyone doesn’t. See what I did there?
Because many interactions that would involve Face ID would require users to push a hardware button anyway. For example, on all iOS devices with Face ID, you must double-push a hardware button to authorize Apple Pay transactions. (This shouldn’t be done in software because malicious macOS apps could in theory authorize transactions merely by pretending to push a software button on the user’s behalf.)

If you have to push a button anyway, there’s little actual benefit to Face ID on Macs.

Edit: ha, someone beat me to the punch. Not intentional, wasn’t looking at the second page when I posted.
 
I don't understand why so many want Face ID on a MBP.
I totally concur— Touch ID works great and guarantees you have to be in front of the machine and perform an action to unlock it. Face ID sounds like a horrible idea on a laptop— your laptop could be unlocked in the office (remember those) without you knowing it and remain unlocked once you walk away. Face ID on laptops is not necessary and probably a bad idea.
 
So there’s no explanation why a 3 year old 2018 iPad Pro got Face ID and NO notch, and somehow a new 2021 MacBook Pro needed a notch and NO FaceID and people swallowed that hook line and sinker.

Also, Apple failed to include HDMI 2.1, WiFi 6e, and Bluetooth 5.1 all of which have been around and Apple just forgot.

I guess we can hope for a refresh in 2022.
I’d guess it’s because faceID isn’t super practical on a laptop. If you lock your laptop and walk away you’d still have to come back and press a button any way to wake it up then do Face ID where as with Touch ID you press that button and it scans your finger. So why not. Also a lot of pros on production teams I’d imagine still have to wear masks so Face ID isn’t a great option. As far as the Wi-Fi 6e that’s still a super new technology lots of things aren’t set up for it. I know of maybe two routers that have it. And any one that’s complaining about the notch doesn’t use one of the computers because for most of the others it disappears almost immediately. Can’t speak for the hdmi 2.1 that wouldn’t of hurt to include but I think it would just add to the cost and For the cost I’d rather have more power than things I’m not using.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jdb8167
iPad Pro has thick bezels. iPhone and new MacBook Pro do not. Don’t be surprised it iPad pros get thinner bezels and adopt a notch.

Also, thickness. A MacBook Pro screen is drwaerixllt slimmer than iPhone and iPad. It’s a whole different ballgame than thicker iOS devices.

I assume that given enough time, they will all have it, and it will be hidden under the display. When all of that will come to fruition is impossible to say.
 
  • Like
Reactions: pianostar9
I'm not as annoyed by the omission of FaceID than the Centerstage feature. Apple has long held back obvious features to save them for the next iteration, but I feel that with Centerstage they have been inconsistent. The 2020 iPad Pro didn't have Centerstage but less than a year later the lower priced iPad Air had it. Likewise, the 2021 MBP doesn't have Centerstage but there is a rumor that the 2022 Macbooks/Macbook Airs will have it. It's annoying when a lower priced version gets a premium feature missing from a pro device when they released so close to each other.

I guess they have to save something for the new colorful Macs, since that white bezel will be a hard sell.
 
So there’s no explanation

There's definitely an explanation, you just don't seem to know it :)


why a 3 year old 2018 iPad Pro got Face ID and NO notch,

Because it is significantly thicker than the lid of the MBP. There are a lot of components BEHIND the cameras on the iPad (check iFixit videos if you don't believe me). The lid on the MBP is literally "filled" with screen stuff, there's no space.

Also, the bezels are thicker on the iPad Pro then on the new MBPs, fyi.


and somehow a new 2021 MacBook Pro needed a notch and NO FaceID and people swallowed that hook line and sinker.

The notch was discussed ad nauseam here, but yeah, they needed it if they wanted that quality camera with such slim bezels. You can have thin bezels and a crappy camera, thick bezels and a good camera or thin bezels and some novelty solution like the notch, the pop-out camera, the bottom camera. Considering Apple controls their OS and hardware, they could put it in such a way that doesn't take away from regular content (they added space around it, rather than taking away from existing space). This is probably the best solution.

The current area includes several things, like the camera sensor, the True Tone and ambient sensor, and the camera indicator LED. This space is filled up. For Face ID they would also need a dot-projector, a flood illuminator and an additional IR camera. "So how did they put it on an iPhone and iPad then?" - well, as I said, they have more depth, so some of the elements can be put behind.

Now, can they put FaceID in the thin volume they have available? Perhaps. Perhaps they will in future iterations. But it is a significantly thinner space than any other Face ID assembly they did so far. For now, it seems the technology isn't there yet.

No one "swallowed" this, we just understood it correctly.


Also, Apple failed to include HDMI 2.1, WiFi 6e, and Bluetooth 5.1 all of which have been around and Apple just forgot.

As for HDMI 2.1 is not a matter of them "forgetting", it's a technical limitation. There is only so much bandwidth (for 4 TB4 ports), and HDMI 2.1 is actually 48Gbps, which is 8Gbps more than one Thunderbolt 4 port. So, they have 3 Tb ports and room for one more - that needs to include: HDMI and a card reader. So you see why they didn't fit 2.1, which is a smart decision considering its intended use. The port included still provides a nice 4K HDR image at 60hz on my OLED TV, which is quite enough.

Future versions may have 2.1 if the new M chips provide higher bandwidth.

Wifi 6e and BT 5.1 - that I don't know - but I'm sure there are reasons.


I guess we can hope for a refresh in 2022.

There probably won't be a refresh of the MBP in 2022. Everything points to 2023. With that said, none of these things are deal-breakers. They are compromises based on the current state of technology, and I think Apple made some good calls when designing these computers. They are stellar, really.
 
Last edited:
So there’s no explanation why a 3 year old 2018 iPad Pro got Face ID and NO notch, and somehow a new 2021 MacBook Pro needed a notch and NO FaceID and people swallowed that hook line and sinker.

Also, Apple failed to include HDMI 2.1, WiFi 6e, and Bluetooth 5.1 all of which have been around and Apple just forgot.

I guess we can hope for a refresh in 2022.
The problem is not one of width or height but depth, it will get resolved in time though.
 
So there’s no explanation why a 3 year old 2018 iPad Pro got Face ID and NO notch, and somehow a new 2021 MacBook Pro needed a notch and NO FaceID and people swallowed that hook line and sinker.

Also, Apple failed to include HDMI 2.1, WiFi 6e, and Bluetooth 5.1 all of which have been around and Apple just forgot.

I guess we can hope for a refresh in 2022.
Oh. Please. There is no Face ID because the units are not thin enough. The both is from extra screen space, turn it off if you choose to be angered over this. Hdmi 2.1 is unnecessary because the screen refresh rate from the m1 pro and m1 max is only 60 hz, so no benefit from 2.1, which apparently isn’t a real standard anyway. Wifi 6E is not very widespread, so meh, it would be nice but not a biggie at all. Bluetooth 5.1? It has not been a limitation for many devices, but why didn’t you go with Bluetooth 5.2, seems more logical, also of little benefit though

So, not seeing the value in the complaint
 
  • Like
Reactions: ericwn
TouchID can be just as fast and more secure. But anyway, faceID doesn't work at all if you need to be wearing a mask right now. I don't use either in Windows, I just use a PIN or a password, it always works, with a mask, with a dirty finger, whatever.
I just use my Apple Watch, even with a mask, and I wash my hands. Not touching a puter with scummy digits
 
I’m going to have to kindly disagree on that one. Face ID on the iPhone is annoying for me, especially with masks. It sometimes doesn’t work when I need it most like when I have only one hand free or something
Why would you be wearing a mask at home to use your laptop? And if you need to type your password instead, you just click or press enter, just like Touch ID works on the Mac. I don’t understand the mindset of not liking something so nobody else should have it.
 
Why would you be wearing a mask at home to use your laptop? And if you need to type your password instead, you just click or press enter, just like Touch ID works on the Mac. I don’t understand the mindset of not liking something so nobody else should have it.
Or said another way iPhone unlocks watch, watch unlocks phone even with a mask, watch unlocks Mac. Couldn’t be easier
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.