Many fans have long wondered when the first Mac with Face ID will be unveiled. Now, Mark Gurman has commented on the matter in his latest issue of the "Power On" newsletter.
In the newsletter, Gurman explains that he believes Apple's ultimate goal is to move all of its products to Face ID, including lower-cost devices like the iPhone SE and iPad Air, which currently rely on Touch ID. Gurman saysthat Touch ID remains an important part of Apple's product range, especially for the cheaper models, as it is a "cheaper alternative" to Face ID and continues to offer security to users.
But I expect that will change at some point. It won't happen this year. But I would bet that Face ID will appear on the Mac in a few years. I expect all iPhones and iPads to switch to Face ID within that timeframe, too. Finally, an in-screen camera would help differentiate Apple's more expensive devices by eliminating the notch at the top. The facial recognition sensor gives Apple two core functions: security and augmented reality. Touch ID, convenient or not, only offers the former.
Face ID: Apple will eliminate the notch
Gurman previously reported that Apple originally planned to include Face ID in its recently introduced, redesigned 24-inch iMac, but postponed its implementation until an upcoming iMac redesign. Unlike iPhones and iPads, Mac laptop screens are significantly thinner, making it more difficult to incorporate the necessary sensors for Face ID, according to Gurman. As development progresses, Apple will embed Face ID into the screens themselves, eliminating the iPhone's notch. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes such an iPhone could be released as early as 2023. Regarding the Mac desktop, Apple is continuing to work on a replacement for the 27-inch iMac, which could feature a larger screen and a more powerful "M2X" chip. A final announcement for the device is currently unknown. (Image: Apple)
