Apple today released the latest version of its mobile operating system - iOS 15.4 - which now lets iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 users unlock their handset with facial recognition while wearing a face mask.
Dubbed Face ID with a Mask, the tech looks for unique features around your eyes to unlock your phones. As such, you'll need to rescan your face when you set it up. If you wear glasses, you'll also want to do a secondary scan for extra accuracy.
Notably, Face ID with a Mask won't work if you're wearing sunglasses. Apple also warns that Face ID is most accurate when not wearing a mask, so it's possible the unlock process may not be quite as seamless as it with an uncovered mug.
As aforementioned, Face ID with a Mask only works with iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 devices. That means anyone with an iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or iPhone 11 will miss out on the functionality, despite also relying on facial recognition to unlock their device.
Prior to Face ID with a Mask, the only way to unlock a Face ID iPhone while wearing a mask (other than banging in your PIN) was by also owning an Apple Watch. While that's convenient if you already have an Apple Watch, spending a minimum of $299 just to make unlocking your iPhone a bit easier when wearing a face mask isn't a prudent financial decision for most.
iOS 15.4 also includes new emoji, the option to start SharePlay sessions directly from supported apps, and other bug fixes. It launches alongside iPadOS 15.4 and macOS 12.3, which add support for Universal Control. Universal Control allows you to control an iPad with your Mac's keyboard and mouse, and can even be used to drag and drop files from one device to the other.
Alex Choros
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