iPhone Face ID will only work with a mask if you're wearing an Apple Watch. For about three years, Face ID was the only biometric identification option on the iPhone. No one predicted that the time would come when we would have to cover our faces with a mask.
Well, that's our reality today, and it's a huge problem for Face ID. If the sensor cannot clearly capture the face, the phone cannot unlock. This means that users will have to enter their passwords as many times as needed to unlock the phone.
Of course, for people who have unlocked their phones just by looking at it, entering passwords every now and then won't be convincing.
According to a recent report, Apple is working to address this issue with its upcoming iOS 14.5 update.
The company aims to make it easier to unlock your phone, but the solution requires an Apple Watch. A report from Pocket-lint reveals that users can use the Apple Watch to quickly authenticate and unlock iPhones.
A beta version of the new iOS 14.5 update that brings this support is now available.
How does it work?
If you enable Apple Watch Unlock, you can unlock your iPhone by simply lifting your iPhone to turn on the screen. When you hold your phone up to your face, feedback will appear on your Apple Watch. This vibration on the watch means that the phone is now open for use.
However, it is important to note that the phone and watch must be in close proximity. For convenient unlocking, it is better to pick up the phone with the same hand as the watch. However, this feature is only for unlocking the iPhone and nothing else.
If you need access to App Store and iTunes purchases, you'll still need more secure authentication. Additionally, a password is still required for security verification even if this feature is active.
We do not expect this feature to be flawless. This may require testing and consistent use to get users used to it. iOS 14.5 also includes app transparency controls (and permission popups). Many companies are not happy with this inclusion.
Touch ID is back, but the HOME button will eventually become history
Since 2018, Face ID has become the only biometric identification option for the new iPhone. However, it appears that while Face ID is great for security, many users still prefer Touch ID's fingerprint recognition, and in the context of the 2020 pandemic outbreak, Face ID also appears to be problematic when users wear masks. Many inconveniences make the convenience of Touch ID more noticeable.
In this case, a combination of Touch ID and Face ID can be a solution that takes into account both security and convenience. Interestingly, in the Android camp, some flagship models have already adopted a combination of fingerprint recognition + face recognition, for example, the Huawei Mate 30 Pro.
