iPhone X Face ID is crap....

[aevan]

What model iPhone you used with Touch ID?
My 7 plus unlocks instantly when I press my home button 99% of the time.
It's so fast by the time the screen even lights up I'm in the home screen.
Maybe you had a defective sensor or you needed to redo your finger scan.
As it stands right now Touch ID is more reliable and way faster than face id.

I just explained to you that for me, and most of the people I know - it isn’t.

Also, have you tried Face ID yourself, or is this just wishful thinking?

I’ve used Touch ID on the 6S, iPad Pro 1st gen, iPad Pro 2nd gen and MacBook Pro. I also did numerous finger scans and re-scans. So it’s not a faulty sensor. Not everyone is the same, perhaps you perspire less, or your skin is different - but for me Touch ID is NOT more reliable. And the same goes for my friends, as I said. As soon as the fingers are wet or the air is humid it fails.

Face ID only fails if you’re holding the phone at an angle or too close or too far - but hold it normally and it works 100% of the time.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Face ID is superior tech - it works reliably no matter the weather, sweat, rain, temperature or the fact I just took a shower - it works without me even thinking about it and I don’t have to take an additional action when it requires authentication. It is not only more reliable, it’s also more convenient - as others have pointed out. I’m starting to wonder if some people here, that criticize it, even have a X - or if they are using the phone in a very specific way that blocks Face ID from functioning normally.

There is a reason Apple didn’t even try to put Touch ID on the X, after all. No contest, really.

 

[Applejuiced]

I just explained to you that for me, and most of the people I know - it isn’t.

Also, have you tried Face ID yourself, or is this just wishful thinking?

I’ve used Touch ID on the 6S, iPad Pro 1st gen, iPad Pro 2nd gen and MacBook Pro. I also did numerous finger scans and re-scans. So it’s not a faulty sensor. Not everyone is the same, perhaps you perspire less, or your skin is different - but for me Touch ID is NOT more reliable. And the same goes for my friends, as I said. As soon as the fingers are wet or the air is humid it fails.

Face ID only fails if you’re holding the phone at an angle or too close or too far - but hold it normally and it works 100% of the time.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Face ID is superior tech - it works reliably no matter the weather, sweat, rain, temperature or the fact I just took a shower - it works without me even thinking about it and I don’t have to take an additional action when it requires authentication. It is not only more reliable, it’s also more convenient - as others have pointed out. I’m starting to wonder if some people here, that criticize it, even have a X - or if they are using the phone in a very specific way that blocks Face ID from functioning normally.

There is a reason Apple didn’t even try to put Touch ID on the X, after all. No contest, really.

For you and most people you know huh?
Ok tell us another one....

And btw Apple wanted to put Touch ID under the screen but failed and scrappped it last minute.

 

[PieTunes]

And btw Apple wanted to put Touch ID under the screen but failed and scrappped it last minute.

I read an article where they interviewed Craig or Phil or some high level dude, they said the X was in development for years and they never even had planned to use Touch ID at all.

https://www.macrumors.com/2017/10/31/apple-dismisses-touch-id-under-display-rumors/

 

[Applejuiced]

I read an article where they interviewed Craig or Phil or some high level dude, they said the X was in development for years and they never even had planned to use Touch ID at all.

https://www.macrumors.com/2017/10/31/apple-dismisses-touch-id-under-display-rumors/

Yes off course, what do you think they will say now that they couldnt make it work with touch ID?
Sure, it was intentional

 

[ipponrg]

I’ve used Touch ID on the 6S, iPad Pro 1st gen, iPad Pro 2nd gen and MacBook Pro. I also did numerous finger scans and re-scans. So it’s not a faulty sensor. Not everyone is the same, perhaps you perspire less, or your skin is different - but for me Touch ID is NOT more reliable. And the same goes for my friends, as I said. As soon as the fingers are wet or the air is humid it fails.

Aside from wet fingers, snow, rain, etc, my old 6S touch ID has worked more consistently than FaceID.

But like you've said, FaceID works great when you are holding it.

Face ID only fails if you’re holding the phone at an angle or too close or too far - but hold it normally and it works 100% of the time.

It also fails 100% of the time when it's laying flat on a table, and your face isn't in front of it. Touch ID takes care of this. Some people claim that is not a common use case, so maybe I'm one of the few pragmatic people that use it as a mini computer to check my mail, text messages, and alerts without holding it.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Face ID is superior tech ...

I think Face ID generation 2 will make strides in improvement which is why I plan to upgrade in a year. The iPhone X at the moment is tolerable for me, but I'm not as swooned as other fanatics here.

I do get annoyed in the mornings though when I have to try hard to take my face out of the pillow to unlock the phone. Maybe it's Apple's unintentional way of forcing you to wake up.

 

[garrym13]

I am really shocked at the number of fail rates that people say they get with FACEID. I have had my phone since the release date and I bet I have used the passcode less than 10 times, not including re-starts, since I have had it. FaceID just works for me. Maybe I should consider myself lucky.

 

[Superrjamz54]

Yes off course, what do you think they will say now that they couldnt make it work with touch ID?
Sure, it was intentional

Nobody can make it work yet. Pretty sure TouchID was a fallback in case FaceId wasn’t ready. They did buy the maker of FaceId for a reason. Surprised Microsoft didn’t buy the creator first. Considering it was the same people who did it for the Konnect first.

 

[MH01]

I was surprised how well it worked. For me touchid is much better, though it has evolved and faceid is version 1, you could almost say beta, will improve a lot next version

 

[44267547]

And btw Apple wanted to put Touch ID under the screen but failed and scrappped it last minute.

And you know this how exactly? Aside from the hyperbole with the last minute remark, It's already been openly stated that Craig Federighi interviewed with John Gruber that touch ID was experimented with under the display, but they never had full intentions of using it as the primary, where they wanted Face ID as their primary choice once it was operating as intended. The idea that touch ID failed under the display was complete nonsense.


https://daringfireball.net/2017/09/iphone_x_event_thoughts_and_observations

 

[MH01]

And you know this how exactly? Aside from the hyperbole with the last minute remark, It's already been openly stated that Craig Federighi interviewed with John Gruber that touch ID was experimented with under the display, but they never had full intentions of using it as the primary, where they wanted Face ID as their primary choice once it was operating as intended. The idea that touch ID failed under the display was complete nonsense.


https://daringfireball.net/2017/09/iphone_x_event_thoughts_and_observations

Let's me honest , apple is never going to come out ever and say they have not implemented exactly what they wanted to do
. Never ever ever will they say they failed with plan A and we got plan B.

These are execs that go on stage and everything is amazing , exceptional , brilliant etc etc etc ... magical .

I'll be honest , for my the X comes across and not what was intended, but with the deadline for the 10th year, it was shipped. That notch will be gone in a few versions...it just makes no sense for a company that is regarded as being be best in user experience.... or user experience is no longer the focus, let's see .

 

[44267547]

apple is never going to come out ever and say they have not implemented exactly what they wanted to do .

You're free to speculate. But all we have is what's already been stated by Craig Federighi and Dan Riccio, which I have no reason to believe either one of them would have to be dishonest.. You have to take an account that Apple does not owe anyone in explanation to anything about Touch ID under the display. As secretive as this company is, for them to even discuss touch ID at all isn't relevant to Face ID. I truly believe that Craig Federighi didn't even have to speak of their own research and development what happens behind the scenes at Apple.

Naturally for those who disparage against Face ID, want to find anything they can wrong with why Apple would abandoned touch ID, because they don't approve of touch ID being phased out. Look at the title of this thread, "Face ID is crap", naturally the doubters will never believe anything Apple says because Face ID does not align with their own views.

 

[newellj]

As I mentioned several times before, this kind of information never ceases to amaze me. Have we been using the same Touch ID? Because mine fails 5 out of 10 times. It's so unreliable, I was considering turning it off.

If my fingers are even slightly sweaty or wet - it doesn't work. If the home button is even just slightly dirty - it doesn't work. If the weather drastically changes outside (very cold, for example) - it doesn't work. If I take a bath, even after I thoroughly dry my hands - it doesn't work. And not just me, most of my friends have similar issues - I know, because we often discuss our gadgets.

Mostly it's my thumbs, I guess, because on my MBP, I use my index finger and it works a lot better. Still, it's almost comical how often it fails on my previous iPhone and on my iPad (both 2nd gen sensors) - I even tried using multiple scans of the same finger.


On the other hand (pun not intended ), Face ID works almost every time. It doesn't work when I look at it from a really weird angle, and when I'm lying sideways. That's it. When I look at it normally - it always works. It has at least twice the success rate compared to Touch ID. And no, I don't have to move it around and stuff to make it work.

So, in my opinion, the reasons why some people are claiming Face ID doesn't work well are this:

1. People are either holding their phones in some drastically different ways than me. For example, some pople hold it really, really close to their face, some hold it really far - or at a really weird angle. I hold it like I always did, and it works every time.
2. People confuse failure with scenarios where it's designed not to work. For example, they don't move it towards their face quickly enough, it tries to unlock, doesn't see a face and stops. Instead of just swiping up (which will cause it to try again), people think it failed so they lock and unlock their phone. It does get confusing sometimes, but you just have to continue the unlock swipe and it will work.
3. Confirmation bias - people have a tendency to prefer what they are used to, so they notice every time when the new thing fails, while they do not notice half the time the old thing failed. For example, having to readjust their thumb several times for Touch ID to work.
4. Their phones are faulty.
5. They are not honest.
6. Parallel universes intersecting. In mine - Face ID works great and Touch ID does not. In theirs - it's the other way around.

Take your pick.

As for me, this is the first time I'm using a six-digit passcode on my iOS device. Why? Because I almost never have to type it in. With Touch ID, I used a four-digit one, because I had to enter it ten times a day.

Edit: I guess it's 2 for most people. Example, I just picked up my iPhone from the desk. The screen turned on and I had a haptic feedback indicating that Face ID has failed (which is normal, since my face wasn't anywhere near). I could've interpreted this as a fail, turned the screen off, tried again - instead I just started holding it in a normal using position and swiped up. It tried again and I was in. This is how it's supposed to work.

On 1 and 2, those sound like "you're not using it right" to me. I guess I don't use the iPhone X right, because I have something like a 40% failure rate. When you add the number of times I can't get an unlock because it's not even in my hand (example: phone sitting on desk) and the number of times it unlocks when I didn't want an unlock, it doesn't feel like FaceID is working for me. But I mostly like your #6, because TouchID was essentially 100% reliable for me. It is like there's a parallel universe, two different groups of users. This is an interesting thread for sure. I'm glad I'm not designing these things!

 

[MH01]

You're free to speculate. But all we have is what's already been stated by Craig Federighi and Dan Riccio, which I have no reason to believe either one of them would have to be dishonest.. You have to take an account that Apple does not owe anyone in explanation to anything about Touch ID under the display. As secretive as this company is, for them to even discuss touch ID at all isn't relevant to Face ID. I truly believe that Craig Federighi didn't even have to speak of their own research and development what happens behind the scenes at Apple.

Naturally for those who disparage against Face ID, want to find anything they can wrong with why Apple would abandoned touch ID, because they don't approve of touch ID being phased out. Look at the title of this thread, "Face ID is crap", naturally the doubters will never believe anything Apple says because Face ID does not align with their own views.

In my present company we are in the process of delivery x for the Winter Olympics , due to delays etc we are descoping and delivering a lesser product , powers that be will say it's what we wanted to delivery . My point is Craig etc will never state the reality . That is the problem by I'm making.

Can I ask you, do you think The X Meets apple's high standards for UX and ease of use ?

 

[aevan]

Unlike most of the criticizers of Face ID here, I actually own devices with both techs and I am not trying to downplay one because I don’t have it, or because I like to see Apple fail.

I also have objectively bad experiences with Touch ID. I agree, the phrase “so do most of my friends” does seem like anecdotal evidence at best and like a made up story at worst - but it is the shared experience of me and my two good friends I mentioned only because, at one time, I myself have wondered if I am a special case when it comes to fingerprints or hand oils or whatever. Now I believe it’s just our climate - the skin, including fingerprint rings, expand and contract depending on various external factors and Touch ID is far from 100% succesful.

Also, I want to say something to those who want to use their phone laying flat on their desks: you may need to adapt. And spare me the “you’re holding it wrong” jokes, please. I can almost picture some people having a fit of rage over this: “I don’t want to adapt over a phone, it adapts to me!” But we do this, constantly, when there are clear benefits to do so. For example, we made a drastic change from easily using those old Nokias with one hand, which was a real and practical use case, to using plus-sizes phones with both hands - because we wanted bigger screens. Same with Face ID: because we can use it in any climate, without much effort, because people with conditions such as psoriasis can use it, because we can have attention-aware features, etc. - for all those reasons, we have to drop a few benefits of the old technology, such as biometric unlocking while our faces are not in (otherwise generous) range. Why I find this lying-on-desk argument a non-issue, because we had popular Android phones with scanners on their back for years (very few have them on the front) and no one talked about this - but when Apple does it, suddenly it’s a hostile act against our human rights or something.

The amount of petty, bitter, cynical and hypocritical comments here, is becoming ridiculous, even for “the Internet”.

Face ID is “a beta product”?
It fails every fourth or fifth time?
I’ll wait until “they sort it out”?

My favorite one is that story how Apple ditched the fingerprint scanner below the front glass in the last minute. Because we know that’s how phones are made. No, you don’t finalize design two or three years ahead, no you don’t plan strategically - you just go for it and try and see what happens. Sure.

These forums always had two sides to any story, that is fine. But, as I mentioned elsewhere, the sheer amount of negativity over any change is astounding. It’s human nature, I guess, we’ve evolved to focus on the negative. But still it surprises me. When I tried Face ID, it worked so well, so reliably and easily - I remember thinking “well, at least this is one thing MR forums won’t be able to complain about”.

Boy, was I wrong.

 

[44267547]

Can I ask you, do you think The X Meets apple's high standards for UX and ease of use ?

With the iPhone X, they put out a premium product. Is the iPhone X for everybody? Absolutely not. Why? Because of the price point and Apple knows that not everybody is ready to migrate away from touch ID to Face ID. That is why the iPhone 8 exists, as a second offering and a cheaper price point for an iPhone that has almost identical internals.

I think there is an initial phase that comes with learning the iPhone X with gesture controls and Face ID. But that's how technology is, there's always a slight learning curve for the most part and not everybody is willing to accept change, because not everybody likes change. Apple is that one company that's not afraid to make the changes necessary to advance the future. What you're seeing with certain retaliation against Apple on a tech forum, Is not everybody agrees with Apples vision of the iPhone X and other product changes over the years. It's a culmination that this company is not the same company since Jobs passing.

Outside a tech forum and in the real world, I have never heard of anyone complain of the notch, Face ID or the iPhone X in general. What you're seeing and reading on a tech forum, is a small minority of those who don't agree with Apples decisions. I would say the majority who purchased the iPhone X and can afford to do so, likely are content with the device.

As for Face ID, it's still fairly early to see where this is all completely leading too. But I do think it has a strong start, given that it's not perfect, but technology as a whole is not perfect.

 

[Jonathantuba]

Face ID works for me 100% of the time. Which is even better than touch ID, so I love this new technology.

Maybe try rescanning your face if you are having problems. There might have been some problem with the initial reading?

If all else fails take your X back to Apple store and see if you can get replacement. We know there is nothing inherently wrong with face ID, so if you continue to have problems, you must have a faulty phone

 

[aevan]

try rescanning your face if you are having problems.

Or, if I may add, actually buying the iPhone X. That helps too.
[doublepost=1512903240][/doublepost]

For me touchid is much better, though it has evolved and faceid is version 1,

In what way has it evolved? After two years they made it a bit faster (btw, offtopic, but I remember a lot of MR posts at the time complaining about this change).

But that’s it. What kind of evolution is this? Touch ID is, in terms of functionality and usability, the same as it was when it debuted with the 5S. In a way, Face ID is the “evolution” of Apple’s biometric sensor tech. It is the third generation of Apple biometrics as it shares a lot of the same technologies (like the shared secure enclave, software integration, etc) but advances the tech forward.

 

[The Game 161]

Yes off course, what do you think they will say now that they couldnt make it work with touch ID?
Sure, it was intentional

No they wouldn’t even mention it if that was the case

Face ID has took them years so yes what they are saying is very believable. If they had plans to use Touch ID under the display they would of kept it until they figured out how to put it under the display

They scrapped it due to Face ID being better long term

 

[MH01]

With the iPhone X, they put out a premium product. Is the iPhone X for everybody? Absolutely not. Why? Because of the price point and Apple knows that not everybody is ready to migrate away from touch ID to Face ID. That is why the iPhone 8 exists, as a second offering and a cheaper price point for an iPhone that has almost identical internals.

I think there is an initial phase that comes with learning the iPhone X with gesture controls and Face ID. But that's how technology is, there's always a slight learning curve for the most part and not everybody is willing to accept change, because not everybody likes change. Apple is that one company that's not afraid to make the changes necessary to advance the future. What you're seeing with certain retaliation against Apple on a tech forum, Is not everybody agrees with Apples vision of the iPhone X and other product changes over the years. It's a culmination that this company is not the same company since Jobs passing.

Outside a tech forum and in the real world, I have never heard of anyone complain of the notch, Face ID or the iPhone X in general. What you're seeing and reading on a tech forum, is a small minority of those who don't agree with Apples decisions. I would say the majority who purchased the iPhone X and can afford to do so, likely are content with the device.

As for Face ID, it's still fairly early to see where this is all completely leading too. But I do think it has a strong start, given that it's not perfect, but technology as a whole is not perfect.

Sorry but you are now speculating based on your experience, just at work opinions are split in relation to the X.

The price is another issue all together . Sorry I can't believe not a single person has complained about the price to you. Maybe it's your circle of friends , fair enough .

But hang on please, premium means a different user experience? See this is my point, with Apple , purchase the cheapest or most expensive, you get the same experience. Look I got last years premium iPhone 7 plus also.... it works the same way as all my other devices .

From my experience, from iPhone 1 to 8, I've never had a learning curve that was not intuitive and natural , hence my point , user experience has always come first at Apple, not these days. Now the iPhone X is a fantastic phone that feels android in places... like removal apps is such a hack....

Look we disagree - fair enough . I see your points .

 

[44267547]

No they wouldn’t even mention it if that was the case

Face ID has took them years so yes what they are saying is very believable. If they had plans to use Touch ID under the display they would of kept it until they figured out how to put it under the display

They scrapped it due to Face ID being better long term

The idea that somebody would even say Apple "Scrapped" touch ID last minute because they "couldn't get it working" is absolutely absurd. Anybody that's says that, sounds ignorant. Some like to think they truly know behind the scenes of what Apple does and how much time they invested millions of dollars of engineering into Face ID. But just because they decided not to use touch ID, everybody pushes their own narrative on Apple as to why they chose Face ID.

 

[newellj]

What model iPhone you used with Touch ID?
My 7 plus unlocks instantly when I press my home button 99% of the time.
It's so fast by the time the screen even lights up I'm in the home screen.
Maybe you had a defective sensor or you needed to redo your finger scan.
As it stands right now Touch ID is more reliable and way faster than face id.
After multiple hardware and software updates face id will get there eventually.
This is the first generation of face detection for the iPhone and Touch ID has been out for over 5+ years.

The 5S and 6 were a totally different experience than Gen2. The 6S and later work amazingly well and quickly.

 

[MH01]

Or, if I may add, actually buying the iPhone X. That helps too.
[doublepost=1512903240][/doublepost]

In what way has it evolved? After two years they made it a bit faster (btw, offtopic, but I remember a lot of MR posts at the time complaining about this change).

But that’s it. What kind of evolution is this? Touch ID is, in terms of functionality and usability, the same as it was when it debuted with the 5S. In a way, Face ID is the “evolution” of Apple’s biometric sensor tech. It is the third generation of Apple biometrics as it shares a lot of the same technologies (like the shared secure enclave, software integration, etc) but advances the tech forward.

It went from slow to hit and miss to very fast and accurate, that is evolving .

With face if, I don't get the angle right it does not work, or will not unlock on a desk, it will improve in a version or two .

Okay you are talking about the backend of biometric , users don't care about that, it's about how they interact with the device, and faceid is still hit and miss in places, with lots of excuses about machine learning ... yeah and models believe is world peace peoples issues will not be resolved in software but future interations of facedid hardware + software

 

[44267547]

Sorry but you are now speculating based on your experience, just at work opinions are split in relation to the X.

The price is another issue all together . Sorry I can't believe not a single person has complained about the price to you. Maybe it's your circle of friends , fair enough .

Why are you apologizing? I don't speak for the majority, I speak for those who have experience with the iPhone X around me, sure why you would even mention friends, it's not really relevant. I have Plenty experience in the tech industry to make a fair analysis based on others' opinions and viewpoints of the iPhone X.

As I mentioned, the price is not an issue if somebody can afford it. One has to justify why they would want the iPhone X in the first place. Which is exactly why I said the iPhone 8 is a second offering. Nobody has complained to me about the price point, because they already had the subconscious mind set that they can afford it. So your point is moot.

But hang on please, premium means a different user experience? See this is my point, with Apple , purchase the cheapest or most expensive, you get the same experience. Look I got last years premium iPhone 7 plus also.... it works the same way as all my other devices ..

Your conflating. I said the iPhone is a premium iPhone, I didn't associate the word premium because it has gesture controls and Face ID. It's a premium iPhone and experience that how well it's made. But gesture controls is a completely different experience, given that iOS is implemented in the same way on the iPhone 8.

When Someone purchases the iPhone X, it's not because of the water resistance or stereo speakers, the purchasing it because it's Apple's latest device and newest form factor Offering something different with Face ID. Ultimately, it always comes down to the iOS experience, as aesthetics wear off.

From my experience, from iPhone 1 to 8, I've never had a learning curve that was not intuitive and natural ,....

Basically you're saying because the iPhone X offers a learning curve, it doesn't meet your own narrative. Like I said, the iPhone X is not for everyone, given that it's introducing a new user interface and how you interact with it. You don't have to necessarily appreciate the changes, in order to lease accept them for what they are. And, as I mentioned previously, not everybody likes the changes or direction Apple is going, and I would easily put you in that category based off your previous posts, which you're entitled to your own opinion on.

 

[newellj]

Unlike most of the criticizers of Face ID here, I actually own devices with both techs and I am not trying to downplay one because I don’t have it, or because I like to see Apple fail.

For what it's worth, I do, too.

I myself have wondered if I am a special case when it comes to fingerprints or hand oils or whatever. Now I believe it’s just our climate - the skin, including fingerprint rings, expand and contract depending on various external factors and Touch ID is far from 100% succesful.

Fingerprints/skin oil. I have actually wondered the same thing. My 29 year old son, who has very "oily" hands, has had terrible luck with TouchID (iPhone 5s, just bought an X). I have 100% success, but I'm 30 years older and honestly my skin has gotten pretty dry. So that might count for more than you think (i.e., more than local weather/climate). Or not, I haven't done any testing.

Also, I want to say something to those who want to use their phone laying flat on their desks: you may need to adapt. And spare me the “you’re holding it wrong” jokes, please. I can almost picture some people having a fit of rage over this: “I don’t want to adapt over a phone, it adapts to me!”
g.

I don't know if you're responding to my mentioning that or not. Yeah, I get that, and yes, I will. It's incremental but it's not the main point. The main point is that FaceID needs to be at a fairly specific angle and distance or it won't scan your face. Desktop use and undesired unlocks I can live with, but constantly having to fiddle with the phone so it can get just the right picture of me is not a useful step forward. OTOH, for the surprisingly large number of people who had bad experiences with TouchID, it's a big step forward.

That's why I think I'm glad I'm not responsible for trying to make a commercial market happy here. There seem to be a good sized group who are going to be unhappy either way, though we have to remember that a forum like MR attracts a small number of users who are unusually vocal. Quite possibly the silent majority is happy either way.

 

[maflynn]

As I mentioned several times before, this kind of information never ceases to amaze me. Have we been using the same Touch ID? Because mine fails 5 out of 10 times. It's so unreliable, I was considering turning it off.

I guess not, because mine worked all the time, and not just mine, but currently, my daugther's and wife's phones, it works flawlessly.

Honestly, if I was getting less than 95%, I'd re-scan my face, or return for another one, or just bail on it totally.

I have recanned my face, and I may try again, The phone works well, but the FaceID is not accurate. From other threads, I'm not alone with this, perhaps its because I wear glasses and FaceID has trouble seeing my eyes. I don't know but its not as fast or seamless as TouchID