Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,630
39,511


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.

MAsk-On-Face-ID-iOS-15.4.jpg

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.

face-id-add-glasses.jpg

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
 
Last edited:
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
 
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.
 
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.
 


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.

MAsk-On-Face-ID-iOS-15.4.jpg

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.

face-id-add-glasses.jpg

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
 
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.
 
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.
 
  • Like
Reactions: haruhiko
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.