Foldable iPhone's Under-Screen Camera Likely Won't Include Face ID

[dampfnudel]

That’s a bummer for early adopters, but I’m sure Apple will find a way to miraculously add FaceID to the second or third generation.

 

[dampfnudel]

Because Touch ID is much superior! and hopefully they'll bring it back to their other models.

I can honestly say FaceID is superior, at least for me and probably a lot of other people.

 

[novagamer]

I only remember there being rumors about the fold having Touch ID. Were there ever rumors about it having Face ID (in either screen)? Did I miss it?

Assuming they can’t fit 2 in there and under screen FaceID isn’t ready (which will also compel upgrades for a second version’s product cycle) it makes the most sense to do this imo.

If it is unlocked already it will open without re-authentication, only if you lock it in tablet mode will it require touch ID. If you open it to tablet I imagine FaceID (which will be a third generation in this unit) will be so fast it’ll scan you instantly to unlock straight to tablet mode, with the obvious caveat that you need to have the outer screen pointing at you when you open it.

They aren’t going to go backwards on such an expensive device, but they still need to facilitate Apple Pay etc. so I think touchID is also happening, on the first version.

Hole punch Face ID I believe is true too. We’ll see.

 

[subjonas]

It's not and less secure.. Far more cases where it doesn't work as opposed to faceID.. They even addressed the issue with it not working horizontally as well over the years..

This. I'm not buying a device with an outdated fingerprint reader. There are just way too many scenarios where TouchID is useless (gloves, dry hands, need to grip the device in a certain way) and very little, where FaceID doesn't work well.

I do hope they replace it on lower tier iPads and Macbooks as soon as possible. Also Studio Display would very much benefit from it.

Yeah I dont understand why folks are clamoring for TouchID.
Sure, FaceID could do with some improvements like a little longer distance and a wider angle, but its pretty great as it is now.

How? It's less secure and requires more work. FaceID you literally just look at the screen.

It is inferior in every way, and Face ID has proven itself superior over 8 years. The only thing Face ID has failed to do is shrink the way technology is supposed to over time.

In this day and age we’re really splitting hairs as to what’s considered convenient—basically whether or not we have to move our thumb lol. Which I guess means we’re doing pretty good.

But yes, Face ID is more convenient in some cases:
- read your Lock Screen notifications but not open your phone (if you open up your phone then you have to use your thumb anyway)
- immediately open apps that require authentication (although there is a theoretical implementation of under screen Touch ID that could do the same)
- wearing gloves
- wet or dirty hands
- dry hands (varies between people)
- Animoji

But in other cases, Touch ID is more convenient:
- unlock while phone is not in ideal position (eg. flat on table off to the side)
- doesn’t require looking at phone for Apple Pay
- granular control of being able to look at phone without unlocking (eg. just to check the time, make sure there are no new notifications, etc)
- face covered

These lists probably aren’t exhaustive. Also some of the nuances of the advantages/disadvantages of Touch ID depend on what implementation of Touch ID we’re talking about—Home button, power button, under screen, different implementations of under screen, etc.

Which ID is “best” will really come down to which scenarios an individual runs into most and what’s most important to them. There also seem to be physiological variations between individuals that affect which biometric works more dependably.

I do challenge the more secure argument for Face ID though. I know Apple cited a metric that makes Face ID seem much more secure than Touch ID on paper, but like megapixels, I think it’s one metric that I believe lends itself to marketing, but doesn’t take into account other important real world factors. I think real world security is more complex than one number. But whether one is more secure than the other, realistically they’re both way more secure than any of us will ever need in our unassuming lives, unless one of us believes they are being specifically targeted by a very resourceful entity. But otherwise, has anyone heard of either authentication method being compromised in the wild? I actually did hear of family members being able to unlock each other’s phones with Face ID, but that’s a niche case, and this was in the early days of Face ID and I haven’t heard anything since then so maybe they fixed that issue.

As others have said, ideally we could have both to cover all our bases.

 

[subjonas]

So my guess is FaceID & Dynamic Island on the outside and Face ID in thicker bezels on the inside because there would be a lot of wasted screen space on either side of the inside Dynamic Island

Maybe but one of the points of the article was that internal space (not just bezel space) is at more of a premium on the foldable because it needs to be thinner than a regular phone, and apparently Touch ID takes up less space (leaving more space for battery). But of course, we’ll see.

 

[darngooddesign]

Maybe but one of the points of the article was that internal space (not just bezel space) is at more of a premium on the foldable because it needs to be thinner than a regular phone, and apparently Touch ID takes up less space (leaving more space for battery). But of course, we’ll see.

Each side will probably be as thick as the iPhone 17 Air which is supposed to come with FaceID.

 

[svish]

Will be nice if it is having FaceID. Still a long time away and a lot could change. Hopefully there won't be any reduction in quality of images if there is an under screen camera.

 

[ds2000]

Because Touch ID is much superior! and hopefully they'll bring it back to their other models.

I tentatively agree, although recently between freelance roles I've done a lot of DIY and touchID can no longer recognise my prints. I've re-added them 3 times and still no luck. I guess my hands are healing.
It also doesn't work at all with my Mums thumbs, weirdly she has no prints and really should have been a train robber with that skill set

 

[geta]

I tentatively agree, although recently between freelance roles I've done a lot of DIY and touchID can no longer recognise my prints. I've re-added them 3 times and still no luck. I guess my hands are healing.
It also doesn't work at all with my Mums thumbs, weirdly she has no prints and really should have been a train robber with that skill set

Neither one of them are perfect, but out of these options Touch ID still a better one.