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

[Sir_Macs_A_Lot]

I would not activate this feature.

Why? Are you afraid someone with similar 'around the eye' features as yours will steal your phone?

 

[44267547]

What source/citation do you want?

What is it that you don’t understand? You made a direct statement in the post below that there is “No hardware-wise limitation” reference the iPhone 11/12 Face ID limitation. So, again, please provide a source/citation for your claim that you made below, per forum rules.

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

 

[gaximus]

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.

2 reasons they won't.
1. They claim FaceId is more secure than TouchId, and having TouchId and FaceId makes the device less secure, if FaceId can be disabled.
2. The FaceId hardware isn't free, and neither is the TouchId hardware. They aren't going to put both in, and take a hit on their margins.

Number 2 is probably the deciding reason.

 

[deckard666]

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

Force ? What like at gunpoint to save those two seconds…. This forum

 

[IMPOSSIBLEMAN]

Suddenly I am way less excited about the iOS 15.4 update.

 

[Quackington]

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??

Actually, until I stopped using my iPhone 11 a few months ago, I was able to unlock using Face ID whilst wearing a mask. I don't know why, but it just worked! I don't own an Apple Watch so I wasn't using that option, just the phone. I've since upgraded to a 13 Mini and it no longer works, sadly. Face ID with a mask only worked on the 11 for me.

 

[Lcohen34]

What is it that you don’t understand? You made a direct statement in the post below that there is “No hardware-wise limitation” reference the iPhone 11/12 Face ID limitation. So, again, please provide a source/citation for your claim that you made below, per forum rules.

Someone made a statement saying this is hardware limitation. Did they provide citation? If so, is it from Apple or an independent 3rd party? You sure didn't ask that person for citation, did you?

This is me, expressing my opinion. Which part of that you don't understand?

Which forum rule? Source/Citation please.

 

[Paddle1]

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.

You may be right but I don't know, I think this is something that could spread via word of mouth. The lock screen is something that every iPhone user has to deal with.

 

[usagora]

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

I think you meant prompt/motivate, not force. You can still unlock your phone using a passcode (or Apple Watch) while wearing a face mask using an iPhone 11 or earlier

 

[B4U]

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

Same here.
And the other 7 months? Sweat on the fingers render the TouchID very unreliable.

 

[usagora]

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??

Because ideas take time to develop and implement, and this is just one of hundreds or thousands. I'm sure this has been in the works for a while.

 

[usagora]

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

It would be nice if they added Touch ID to the side button like they do on iPads.

 

[The Game 161]

This feature is good and not sure why it took them so long.

 

[fwmireault]

Someone made a statement saying this is hardware limitation. Did they provide citation? If so, is it from Apple or an independent 3rd party? You sure didn't ask that person for citation, did you?

This is me, expressing my opinion. Which part of that you don't understand?

Which forum rule? Source/Citation please.

"There is no hardware limitation" is not an opinion, it’s a statement. You can’t expect to give this kind of information without people questioning it. I don’t think Apple would refuse to give this feature to older iPhones without a reason, they have a great track record of giving new features in their OS to 3+ years-old phones

 

[Populus]

What about iPad Pro? I have to use my iPad on public places with FaceID and it is a pain in the ass. Could someone tell me if this feature is available for any iPad Pro model? Thank you!

 

[Apple_Robert]

This kind of significant update makes it very tempting to download the beta.

 

[Cloudane]

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

We've had one of those days before

Omicron seems to be bouncing back, I have a feeling our newfound freedom will be short lived, again.

Could finally be a reason to upgrade from the 11...

 

[iGeneo]

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

No “force” involved… you want the feature, buy a 12 or live without it

 

[Lcohen34]

What is it that you don’t understand? You made a direct statement in the post below that there is “No hardware-wise limitation” reference the iPhone 11/12 Face ID limitation. So, again, please provide a source/citation for your claim that you made below, per forum rules.

Which forum rules are you referring to?

 

[TrancyGoose]

I have a watch, so don't care ....plus, it's kinda becoming unnecessary where I live... so yeah.

 

[iGeneo]

What about iPad Pro? I have to use my iPad on public places with FaceID and it is a pain in the ass. Could someone tell me if this feature is available for any iPad Pro model? Thank you!

No.. not on my iPad Pro 11 (latest Gen)

 

[Populus]

No.. not on my iPad Pro 11 (latest Gen)

Thank you iGeneo. That sucks.

 

[usagora]

Which forum rules are you referring to?

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[yashrg]

Actually, until I stopped using my iPhone 11 a few months ago, I was able to unlock using Face ID whilst wearing a mask. I don't know why, but it just worked! I don't own an Apple Watch so I wasn't using that option, just the phone. I've since upgraded to a 13 Mini and it no longer works, sadly. Face ID with a mask only worked on the 11 for me.

Very interesting. This likely serves as some evidence that pre iphone 12 devices have weaker FaceID sensors and won't be capable of securely verifying a face with only half the information.

 

[snipr125]

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

I just use old fashioned PIN, so enter it every time I use the phone. Not an issue for me really as i'm used to it now. I cant use Face ID because the sensors seem to give me strain behind my eyes for some reason, it does not feel right and im not taking any chances with my health... so just turned it OFF.