📱 2022-08-21 06:15:00 – Paris/France.
Last year, when the first rumors of the iPhone 14 started to surface – even on the eve of the launch of the iPhone 13 line – a few smartphone-centric folks at Tom's Guide lamented that all iPhone models 14 can be delivered without Touch ID. I was one of those dissenting voices.
This was at a time when mask-wearing was still prevalent in American and British society; sure, the coronavirus pandemic had slowed down towards the end of 2021, but it was (and is) far from over. This meant there was still a lot of mask-wearing in public spaces, and this was enforced on the London Underground.
Since switching from Android to iPhone in December 2021, I've found the lack of a fingerprint sensor — capacitive, optical, ultrasonic, or otherwise — to be a pain when it comes to to do things like contactless payments while wearing a mask.
Every time I had to press my iPhone 13 Pro to beep inside and outside subway doors, I had to pause and press my lock screen PIN. It went from a minor inconvenience to deeply frustrating at times; as I was using my Google Pixel 6 Pro as a payment phone.
So it's understandable that building rumors that Touch ID won't be coming to the iPhone 14 lineup have started to look like a bummer. Tom's Guide content director Mark Spoonauer even said that "the iPhone 14 will be useless".
But then came iOS 15.4. Bringing with it the ability for Face ID to work with face masks. I don't know how Apple pulled it off (something about unique features around the eye area), but it works like a charm.
Save face
The iPhone 14 Pro is rumored to ditch the notch while keeping Face ID technology in its own cutout. (Image credit: Souta)
I can't think of any real times when Face ID had trouble recognizing my face when I was wearing a mask - not so common anymore with the pandemic seeming to be easing, but some mask wearing is still enforced in the UK in places like hospitals.
In fact, Face ID seems to be a lot more responsive than some under-display fingerprint sensors on top Android phones. Looking at you Pixel 6 Pro with your slow scanner.
So I have to cut a slice of the humble pie and admit that my initial reluctance towards a next-gen iPhone without Touch ID may have been premature.
But for anyone else interested in Touch ID for the iPhone 14, well, that really doesn't seem to be happening. The latest rumors have pretty much dismissed the idea of an under-display or side-mounted Touch ID for the iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro.
Is this a big deal? I do not think so. Not only does Face ID look better than ever, but I've now come to believe that by not adding a Touch ID sensor to the iPhone 14 models, Apple might be saving space and maybe using its advances in component technology and packaging. to give the iPhone 14 a bigger battery or a slightly slimmer design; after all, the iPhone 13 is already a bit heavier than the iPhone 12. And no Touch ID essentially means one less thing to fail for a next-gen iPhone as it gets older.
Touch ID looks nice in iPhone renders, but the iPhone 14 doesn't need it. (Image credit: Hacker 34)
Instead of this extra layer of biometric security, I'd rather see Apple focus on getting the most out of its iPhone 14 cameras, especially since the standard iPhone 14 and so-called iPhone 14 Max aren't ready for major camera upgrades. Perhaps more could be done on the software side or the image signal processing pipeline to deliver improved photos and videos without the need for new hardware.
And on the iPhone 14 Pro, which is slated to get a 48-megapixel main camera and a new A16 chip, I hope Apple spends a lot of time putting that extra sensor resolution and power to good use for providing photos and videos that completely blow away the best android phones. Although I think iPhones are still the video leaders on smartphone, they do not always have the advantage over still photography. So I would like to see Apple take the lead and really set a new standard for others to follow.
So in conclusion, while I don't like to admit I'm wrong, I think maybe I should swallow my pride and admit that an iPhone 14 without Touch ID now makes a lot of sense, and comes the Apple event in September, I can't wait to see what the next iPhone will bring in the field of smartphones.
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SOURCE: Reviews News
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