Apple’s facial recognition system, Face ID, has already been integrated into iPhones since 2017 and iPad Pros since 2018. However, it is still absent from Mac computers. In fact, in these we only find traces of Touch ID, the detector of footprints However, according to many rumors for years, we could be very close to seeing the first devices in this range with this system.
Notch, a prelude to Face ID on MacBook?
Seeing the MacBook Pro 2021 with a notch and yet not having Face ID seems absurd. In fact, it would have been logical, regardless of whether they also integrated Touch ID. It is true that it is an Apple design solution to integrate the camera without the screen frames being too thick, although taking into account the capacity of the company’s engineers and designers, it is strange that they had not found a less invasive solution .
However, there is a theory which could make quite a bit of sense. And not only that the notch can already be a hallmark of the brand. And it is likely that Apple had in its roadmap to introduce Face ID on MacBooks and that, due to some unforeseen event during its implementation, they chose to go back. Given this situation and that in the future they continue to think about implementing it, they chose to integrate the notch now, since it would be strange to launch an all-screen MacBook and that later it would be reduced by the integration of that notch with Face ID.
MacBook Pro (M1 Pro/M1 Max) (2021)
In this way, Apple could already have the design ready in the absence of the sensors corresponding to its facial recognition system being added in future generations. Although to give more context to the theory, it must be said that it would sound at least contradictory that in the iPhone they seem to be about to remove the notch and that the reverse process is happening in the MacBook.
What would Face ID mean on a Mac computer?
The first of all is that it would reinforce that idea of Apple that, despite not having neglected Touch ID, stated on several occasions that its facial recognition system is superior at the level of security and even effectiveness. In fact, despite the attempts of the competition, it is the system that works best due to its precise set of 3D sensors capable of emitting infrared lights with which to distinguish our faces. What’s more shouldn’t be a higher price, given that it is a technology that has already come a long way.
However, in practical terms It does not seem that it will suppose a drastic change, so it really shouldn’t be an urgent gap to fill either. Knowing how this system works on iPhone and iPad, in which you have to press a button to confirm actions, we imagine that it would not change things on Macs. Therefore, if at the end of the day you have to press a button to confirm it, it will involve the same gesture as now that you have Touch ID on the keyboard. The only difference will be that now it is the fingerprint that distinguishes us and with Face ID it would be our face.
Another aspect to note is that the need for Face ID on iPhones came from wanting to expand the screen and reduce frames, since in 2017 the fingerprint sensors under the screen were not as developed as they are now. On Macs, it does not matter whether or not there is Touch ID, since if there is, it is on the keyboard and that does not imply any variation to the screen. In addition, the key where it is placed (upper right), is not exactly an essential one.
We remember that, except for surprise, this coming March (or April) we would already see the first Mac of the year: MacBook Air and iMac (large model). Although for the ‘Air’ it is not expected that it could carry it, who knows if the desktop model could already release this Face ID system. Of course, it will be a turning point and something essential to clear up doubts about its operation in macOS. Similarly, it will be interesting to see if Touch ID is also implemented and how both biometric systems coexist.
