14 DAY TRIAL // The last year and a half have been quite a struggle for pretty much anyone with a new-generation iPhone, pretty much because unlocking the device with a mask is impossible and entering the passcode is sometimes incredibly painful, especially in the case of long phrases.
Apple itself knows this very well, so the company has recently released an update to allow the unlocking of the iPhone with a paired Apple Watch. It’s not necessarily the most convenient solution, especially because it requires an Apple Watch, but it’s more than nothing, making unlocking an iPhone with a face mask on a lot easier.
But on the other hand, Apple is also exploring several other approaches, including improved Face ID that would work with a mask on.
Release date still uncertain
According to Jon Prosser of FrontPageTech, Apple is currently looking into ways to bring a substantially upgraded Face ID system to the iPhone, and the current tests involve a special case with an integrated facial recognition module to test the new implementation.
In case you’re wondering why Apple is testing the whole thing as part of a case and whether the company would end up selling such an accessory, it all comes down to collecting data and determining the overall reliability of the system.
Apple wants its employees to try out the new facial recognition system right now without designing a new iPhone, and of course, without disclosing some of the changes it plans on a future model. So the company has integrated the future Face ID system into a case that people can add on top of their current models and therefore help try out the system right now.
Of course, it’s not yet clear if the iPhone 13 or any other model could get this improved Face ID, but the sooner, the better, especially as face masks look like they’re here to stay.