Face ID is a biometric authentication technology first introduced by Apple on the iPhone in 2017. It offers high security and convenience, allowing users to unlock their devices, confirm payments, and sign into apps using facial recognition. Face ID is also available on certain iPad models.
How Does Face ID Work?
Face ID uses infrared sensors and a camera to create a 3D model of the user’s face. This technology is resistant to photo or video tampering and works even in low-light conditions. To activate Face ID, the user only needs to look at the device’s screen.
For more details on how it works, a special projector generates 30,000 infrared beams that work in pulse mode. Infrared signals are used for two reasons: they reflect very well off surfaces and they are invisible. A special camera with perfect infrared scanning takes the reflections of the infrared dots. A special program then builds a 3D face of the person from the dots. After the face is built, it is compared with a template stored in encrypted form in the memory of the device, if it matches, the phone will be unlocked. Therefore, not all phones can meet the high requirements mainly because of the quality of the camera.
List Apple devices with Face ID support
- iPhone X
- iPhone XR
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and newer) these are the models from 2018.
- iPad Pro 11-inch (all generations)
This technology was first introduced in 2017 and became available on phones and tablets starting in 2018.
