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

iPad mini Slow Touch ID on iPad mini 4

N

nealh

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 20, 2010
537
71
Hi. I recently purchased an iPad mini 4 64 GB Wi-Fi/cellular model.
I have an iPhone 6 as well. Comparing the speed of the touch ID between my iPhone 6 and the iPad mini 4 there is a distinct difference. I am comparing the speed once I click on the home button and then place my fingerprint for opening the iPhone and the iPad.
The mini 4 is much slower. I have deleted and re-performed all the fingerprints calibration twice now with no improvement in speed.

Does this seem to be the case for the other users of the iPad mini 4?

I'm pretty disappointed in this. I did update to iOS 9.02 right out of the box so I'm not sure if this is part of the issue.

Any input would be appreciated. Thank you
 
Does yours have the Samsung or TSMC chip?

Kidding aside, the iPad mini 4 has 1st gen Touch ID.
 
Lol.
I understand they have same Touch ID sensor which is why I am concerned my iPhone 6 is so much smoother and faster. The mini 4 has a much more noticeable delay.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jeff R
nealh said:
Lol.
I understand they have same Touch ID sensor which is why I am concerned my iPhone 6 is so much smoother and faster. The mini 4 has a much more noticeable delay.
Click to expand...
My bad, for some reason I thought you have the 6S.
 
Not the most scientific test, but I just activated TouchID to unlock both my Mini 4 and my iPhone 6 simultaneously. The Mini 4 was quicker, though neither took more than a second.
 
nealh said:
My mini is definitely slower. Poop
Click to expand...

Before you go as far as to return it, I would suggest trying other fingers, or programming in duplicates of your main finger. I think TouchID is slow at times if it has trouble recognizing the finger and needs to "think" about it, so to speak. I have both of my thumbs and index fingers set. I find that TouchID is really fast for my thumbs, which are what I use about 90% of the time to unlock, but it seems to need to think for an extra moment or two when I use an index finger. In theory, it is supposed to get better at recognizing your fingers the more you use them, so it may improve with time or with a better scan of your finger.
 
joeblow7777 said:
Before you go as far as to return it, I would suggest trying other fingers, or programming in duplicates of your main finger. I think TouchID is slow at times if it has trouble recognizing the finger and needs to "think" about it, so to speak. I have both of my thumbs and index fingers set. I find that TouchID is really fast for my thumbs, which are what I use about 90% of the time to unlock, but it seems to need to think for an extra moment or two when I use an index finger. In theory, it is supposed to get better at recognizing your fingers the more you use them, so it may improve with time or with a better scan of your finger.
Click to expand...
I have reprogrammed and retrained(http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2015/01/get-your-iphones-touch-id-working-again-by-retraining-it/) and hard rebooted. I use my thumbs not finger.

I am not sure what to do. I hate to return it. Just a hassle
 
Well, if you've tried everything and you're not satisfied you probably have to bite the bullet and return it. I hope you have better luck with your next unit.
 
Wonder if I could train an Apple Store mini 4 to compare speed?
 
I'm surprised they used older version of Touch ID but I guess you can't have better than Air 2 in any way.
 
nealh said:
Wonder if I could train an Apple Store mini 4 to compare speed?
Click to expand...
Yes, you can. Not within the actual devices settings but I believe the Apple Store's demo units still have a 'Touch ID' application on them in which you can train the device to recognize your fingerprint for novelty and demonstrations's sake.
 
AceFernalld said:
Yes, you can. Not within the actual devices settings but I believe the Apple Store's demo units still have a 'Touch ID' application on them in which you can train the device to recognize your fingerprint for novelty and demonstrations's sake.
Click to expand...

Yes, but that won't allow him to test how quickly they unlock with his fingerprint since the demo units don't actually let customers lock them, for obvious reasons.
 
My touch ID on my mini 4 works as well as the Air 2 and my old iPhone 6, but not nearly as fast as my new 6S. I've occasionally had to redo my fingerprints and sometimes just cleaning the home button has helped.
 
I feel like my Mini 4 also unlocks a bit slower than my Air 2 and 6 Plus (when I had it), but I haven't really done any direct comparisons so I could just be going crazy.

I've since moved up to the 6S Plus but I haven't noticed any tangible speed differences thus far, so the problem could just be me.:p
 
It's fine for me, I'm not waiting for more than half a second I guess. It's nothing compared to the 6S though, obviously. I'm just happy I don't have to type in my passcode every time.
 
wchigo said:
I feel like my Mini 4 also unlocks a bit slower than my Air 2 and 6 Plus (when I had it), but I haven't really done any direct comparisons so I could just be going crazy.

I've since moved up to the 6S Plus but I haven't noticed any tangible speed differences thus far, so the problem could just be me.:p
Click to expand...
It could me going crazy too.
But my iPhone 6 just seems faster.

I agree not using the passcode is great. I so used to the Touch ID.

I do notice that if I open the mini 4 with Smart Cover( which brings up the lock screen) then use Touch ID it's slower than if the screen is off, no lock screen then I click on the home button and leave my thumb there. (Although even that is slower than my iphone
OTACORB said:
Wowzer, we are talking mere seconds here and this is such a huge problem how? LOL
Click to expand...
My OCD. LOL
 
nealh said:
It could me going crazy too.
But my iPhone 6 just seems faster.

I agree not using the passcode is great. I so used to the Touch ID.

I do notice that if I open the mini 4 with Smart Cover( which brings up the lock screen) then use Touch ID it's slower than if the screen is off, no lock screen then I click on the home button and leave my thumb there. (Although even that is slower than my iphone
Click to expand...
Oh, I agree completely. I hated using a passcode so much that I didn't even have one until the 5S when Touch ID was first introduced.

So I decided to do some side by side tests and it confirms that, indeed, the problem was with me. Every single time my 6s Plus unlocked faster than my Mini 4 and Air 2, regardless of pressing the home button to wake it or flipping open the Smart Cover and just placing my thumb on the sensor.

Also the Mini 4 and Air 2 would unlock at the same speed (no discernible difference just eyeballing it and not using a stopwatch or slow motion camera), so any difference I thought was there before was conjured up by my imagination.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back