iOS 15.4's Face ID With a Mask Feature Requires iPhone 12 or Newer

[MacRumors]

In today's iOS 15.4 beta that's available to developers, Apple added a useful new feature that changes the way Face ID works. There's now a Face ID with a Mask option that allows the iPhone to be unlocked when you're wearing a mask, but you need to have an iPhone 12 or newer.

Right now, an iPhone can be unlocked with a mask if you have an Apple Watch for authentication to add an extra layer of security, but the new option removes the need for an Apple Watch. Face ID with a Mask works by recognizing the area around the eye when a mask is worn, which is less secure but more convenient. Unlike Face ID with the Apple Watch, the mask version works with Apple Pay and can be used to authenticate third-party apps.

Unfortunately, Face ID with a Mask is limited to some of Apple's newest iPhones, even though Face ID has been available since 2017 with the launch of the iPhone X. As noted on our forums, Face ID with a Mask is only an option on the iPhone 12 and later, so you'll need an iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max or an iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, or 13 Pro Max.

If you have an iPhone 11 or earlier, you will not see the Face ID with a Mask setup screen when updating to iOS 15.4, nor will you have the option to toggle it on in the Settings app.

It is not clear why Apple has limited Face ID with a Mask to the iPhone 12 and newer, but there may be some differences in Face ID hardware over the years that allow it to work for some devices and not others in terms of reasonable security. It's also possible that Apple will expand Face ID with a Mask to older iPhones in future betas.

Article Link: iOS 15.4's Face ID With a Mask Feature Requires iPhone 12 or Newer

 

[macsplusmacs]

Oh.

(checks his phone.)

Says 12 on it.

Good.

 

[winxmac]

A14 or newer... Even though iPhone X [A11] is the oldest model that uses FaceID... Hardly a surprise from Apple...

I use TouchID... I am just voicing this out for users of iPhone X, XS, XS Max, XR, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max

 

[AlexisV]

Great timing. Today is the day masks are no longer a legal requirement anywhere in England ?

 

[MICHAELSD]

I like the idea of Face ID with a mask working with an Apple Watch for added authentication — this is a feature that’s currently available to activate?

 

[anshuvorty]

My guess? The ML chip on the iPhone 11 or older devices aren't powerful enough to enable FaceID with Mask, whereas the iPhone 12 and newer phones have the ML chip that is more powerful and can handle the FaceID with Mask feature.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I wonder if this feature will force people to upgrade their old iPhone devices prior to iPhone 12.

 

[44267547]

I think that’s kind of annoying for iPhone X or 11 users, they won’t have this option. There must be some technical (Maybe hardware[?]) restriction why the iPhone X/11 aren’t capable.

 

[_Spinn_]

Interesting. I wonder why the difference? Was FaceID improved on the 12 & 13 iPhones or is it that the chips aren't powerful enough on the older models?

 

[kmm333]

I like the idea of Face ID with a mask working with an Apple Watch for added authentication — this is a feature that’s currently available to activate?

Yes, this has worked for a while now.

 

[snipr125]

I turned off Face ID on my 12 mini Day 1 purchase. Please just bring back Touch ID already!!!

 

[Lakersfan74]

I just use the passcode if I'm not able to lower my mask for a few seconds.

 

[Lcohen34]

Typical Apple. "Hey, if you want this feature, upgrade!". Even though there is no hardware-wise limitation.

 

[44267547]

I turned off Face ID on my 12 mini Day 1 purchase. Please just bring back Touch ID already!!!

Yup. What I would like to see happen, is where Apple has touch ID integrated on their display as a secondary option to face ID. But knowing how they don’t like competing technology, and Face ID is their future, I doubt they’ll ever do both coinciding on the same device.

 

[alchemistmuffin]

This is a hardware limitation and it all has to do with two thing: Neural Engine on Ax series chip and the face mapping sensors on iPhone 12s and iPhone 13s

This is how FaceID with mask will basically work. Lot of it is machine learning that requires more processing power.

 

[44267547]

Typical Apple. "Hey, if you want this feature, upgrade!".

I don’t think consumers would ever use this as leverage to upgrade. Think about it. They would have to know this feature would even exist in the first place and be annoyed enough to upgrade. (I suspect most average consumers don’t even know how to navigate properly through the settings on iOS.)

Even though there is no hardware-wise limitation.

Source/citation required.

 

[Morichan]

I hope Apple adds ultrasonic Touch ID sensor under the display in coming iterations.

 

[headlessmike]

I turned off Face ID on my 12 mini Day 1 purchase. Please just bring back Touch ID already!!!

I have to wear gloves five months out of the year due to a recurring thing called “winter”. FaceID beats TouchID hands down.

 

[sociologist]

In today's iOS 15.4 beta that's available to developers, Apple added a useful new feature that changes the way Face ID works. There's now a Face ID with a Mask option that allows the iPhone to be unlocked when you're wearing a mask, but you need to have an iPhone 12 or newer.

Right now, an iPhone can be unlocked with a mask if you have an Apple Watch for authentication to add an extra layer of security, but the new option removes the need for an Apple Watch. Face ID with a Mask works by recognizing the area around the eye when a mask is worn, which is less secure but more convenient.

Unfortunately, Face ID with a Mask is limited to some of Apple's newest iPhones, even though Face ID has been available since 2017 with the launch of the iPhone X. As noted on our forums, Face ID with a Mask is only an option on the iPhone 12 and later, so you'll need an iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max or an iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, or 13 Pro Max.

If you have an iPhone 11 or earlier, you will not see the Face ID with a Mask setup screen when updating to iOS 15.4, nor will you have the option to toggle it on in the Settings app.

It is not clear why Apple has limited Face ID with a Mask to the iPhone 12 and newer, but there may be some differences in Face ID hardware over the years that allow it to work for some devices and not others in terms of reasonable security. It's also possible that Apple will expand Face ID with a Mask to older iPhones in future betas.

Article Link: iOS 15.4's Face ID With a Mask Feature Requires iPhone 12 or Newer

Wouldn’t just be easier and more secure to add Touch ID

 

[2010mini]

I would not activate this feature.

 

[Sir_Macs_A_Lot]

I'm sure Apple has some of the smartest people on the planet on their payroll.
So why did it take this long to come up with this?🧐

 

[antiprotest]

I turned off Face ID on my 12 mini Day 1 purchase. Please just bring back Touch ID already!!!

Do you set your phone to lock immediately or after a period of time, like how long?

 

[Lcohen34]

I don’t think consumers would ever use this as leverage to upgrade. Think about it. They would have to know this feature would even exist in the first place and be annoyed enough to upgrade. (I suspect most average consumers don’t even know how to navigate properly through the settings on iOS.)


Source/citation required.

What source/citation do you want? You either believe in whatever reason Apple feeds you or you don't.

 

[Stella]

Apple should have added this last year.

 

[smoking monkey]

I guessed that this was gonna be released with the iPhone 13 series, but it wasn't. I think had Apple not had supply constraints on the 13 this feature would have been a big selling point throughout Asia in particular. Good to see it's coming soon though! But agree with others, this is waaaaaay too late to the party.