And what are the pros and cons?
Differences Touch ID and Face ID
Apple uses two different methods to unlock your Apple device: Touch ID and Face ID. Touch ID is Apple’s name for the fingerprint scanner, while the facial recognition is called Face ID. Both have advantages and disadvantages. And one of the drawbacks of Face ID is a thing of the past with the arrival of iOS 16, although this does not apply to everyone.
- New in 2022
- Explanation
- Differences and similarities
- Pros and cons
You will find Touch ID on the iPhone models from 2013. The iPad models from 2014 are also equipped with Touch ID. You will also find the fingerprint scanner on the recent models of the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air 2018 and on the desktop Macs with a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID. Face ID is only available on iPhone X and later and iPad Pro 2018 and later.
Touch ID vs Face ID: what’s new in 2022
From this fall, Face ID will work just a little better on certain devices. In iOS 16, support for horizontal Face ID has been added. So you don’t always have to keep your iPhone upright, which comes in handy when you’re playing a game or browsing in landscape view via Safari. This feature only works on the iPhone 13 models (and newer). Another change is that Face ID can give a warning if your face is too far away.
Not much has changed for Touch ID in 2022. New models have been added with a Touch ID sensor (such as the iPad Air 2022 and the new MacBooks). Since 2021, you can also use Touch ID on desktop Macs in combination with a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID sensor, but only on Apple Silicon models.
What are Touch ID and Face ID?
Touch ID and Face ID are both biometric authentication methods that allow access to your Apple product. In the case of Touch ID, it looks at your fingerprint: if you place your registered finger on the Touch ID sensor of your iPhone, iPad or Mac, you get access to all functions and data. The Touch ID button can be located in two places: usually it’s a round home button below the screen, but on newer iPads it can also be incorporated into the side button. On the Mac, you’ll find it in the top right corner of the keyboard.
Face ID scans your face before you can unlock the iPhone or iPad. Both methods replace the passcode you set to lock your device. Touch ID and Face ID therefore ensure that all your data is stored securely, so that other people cannot access your device and view your photos, contacts and other data.
Touch ID vs. FaceID?
So the goal of both methods is the same. That does not alter the fact that there are a number of differences and similarities between Touch ID and Face ID.
Touch ID and Face ID are different
Here are the differences in brief:
- Touch ID works with your finger, Face ID with your face.
- Face ID only works in portrait orientation on iPhone X through iPhone 12 series.
- Face ID works with up to 2 faces (via an alternate look), Touch ID with up to 5 fingers.
- Face ID is more secure than Touch ID.
Type of verification
The most obvious difference is the method of identification. With Touch ID, you place a registered finger on a button. The advantage of this is that it doesn’t matter how you hold your device: vertically, horizontally or at an angle. As long as you have registered your finger properly, you can place it on the home button in all kinds of ways. The only condition is that your skin must be in contact with the button itself, so it won’t work if you have gloves on. Touch ID also works when your device is lying flat on the table or with the screen away from you.
Orientation when using
With Face ID, for most devices, you should always keep it in portrait mode. The only exceptions to this are the 2018 and later iPad Pro models and the iPhone 13 series and later. Face ID also works horizontally there. So on the iPhone X up to and including the iPhone 12 series, Face ID only works if you hold your iPhone upright, in a portrait position. In addition, your face must always be in view for the TrueDepth camera. So you cannot use Face ID if your iPhone is lying flat on the table, unless you hang your face half above the screen. Face ID works with face masks, but this has limitations. For example, the method is less safe, because only the area around your eyes can be looked at.
Number of faces
Another important difference is that Face ID works with up to two faces. You use the Alternative appearance option, for example to scan your partner’s face. It is not possible to register more people.
You can do that with Touch ID. You can register up to five different fingers from different people. For example, some people register their partner’s finger, so that they always have quick access in an emergency and do not have to remember a PIN code.
Safety
The last important difference is that Face ID is a lot more secure according to Apple. The chances of someone else using their face to unlock your iPhone with Face ID is 1 in 1 million. With Touch ID, that chance is 20 times greater, namely 1 in 50,000. Yet you are also well protected with Touch ID. The chance that someone can unlock your iPhone with their finger is still very small.
Moreover, with Face ID you are slightly better protected against certain situations, for example in the event of a robbery. For Face ID you have to look at the screen with your eyes open by default, thanks to the attention function. This is more difficult to force than grab someone’s finger and put it on the home button. However, Face ID can be enforced in a different way. For example, a thief can surprise you by suddenly taking your device and holding it in front of your face. You have to look around you to take a look at the situation and you unintentionally unlock the device. Incidentally, if you are in an emergency, there are ways to quickly disable Face ID so that this robbery method no longer works.
A final difference that we still want is more of a temporary nature. When wearing a face mask, you will (logically) not experience any problems with Touch ID. But with Face ID, some more settings are needed. You can use Face ID with a face mask in two ways: in combination with an Apple Watch or with a separate function that you still have to set up. Face ID therefore works with a face mask, but is slightly less safe and does not work as smoothly as without a face mask.
Touch ID and Face ID matches
These are the agreements in short:
- Secure and unlock your device without having to enter a passcode.
- Identify and log in to apps (e.g. banking apps).
- Data is securely stored in the Secure Enclave.
- Use for payments with Apple Pay.
The similarities between the two methods mainly relate to the purpose: to shut down your device and protect your personal data. You can unlock your Apple device with both Touch ID and Face ID. If your face or finger is not recognised, you will have to enter your access code. In addition, apps can work together with both Touch ID and Face ID. In most cases, Face ID works automatically if an app is also adapted for Touch ID. A developer must add this biometric login method himself. Most banking apps let you log in and send payments using Touch ID or Face ID. This also applies to many password apps.
You also use Face ID and Touch ID to approve payments via Apple Pay. As a result, you are the only one who can pay with your iPhone or iPad (or your partner, whom you also registered in the Touch ID or Face ID settings). As an alternative to Face ID and Touch ID, you can also use the passcode.
The data from registering your fingers and face are both stored in a separate secure part in the chip of your Apple device, called the Secure Enclave. Other parts of the system cannot access this data, so that your fingerprint or your face does not just end up on the street. There is, however, a difference: Touch ID does not store images of your fingerprint, but Face ID does (although they are made unrecognizable). Apple does this to ensure that Face ID also works if your face changes slightly. It is therefore not necessary to scan your face again.
What are the pros and cons of Touch ID and Face ID?
From the list of similarities and differences, you could already see that both techniques have their advantages and disadvantages. In short, here are the pros and cons of Touch ID and Face ID:
Touch ID benefits
- Register multiple fingers (also possible for other people)
- It doesn’t matter how you hold your device, as long as your finger comes into contact with the home button
Touch ID cons
- Does not work with gloves
- Often does not work if fingers are dirty or wet
Face ID benefits
- Often works hands-free (unlocking requires swiping)
- It is safer
- Works with two faces
Face ID cons
- Does not work with specific sunglasses (most sunglasses will work)
- Does not work (properly) if the sun shines brightly behind you
- Horizontal use only on iPhone 13 and iPad Pro 2018 and newer
