iPhone 16e Face ID kinda sucks for me

[motrek]

Recently upgraded from an SE to a 16e. All my friends with newer iPhones assured me that I would love Face ID.

Me: What if I want to unlock my phone and my face isn't in front of it?
Friends: When are you trying to use your phone without looking at it? That obviously never happens.

Turns out, it happens several times per day for me.

There are multiple times per day when I have my phone set on my desk, or on a restaurant table, or on my bed, and the phone is pointed up and I'm using it from an angle. So my face isn't directly in front of the phone, but the phone is still perfectly usable.

Touch ID worked fine in those scenarios (obviously) and Face ID doesn't (obviously).

So I have to lean over the phone like an idiot so the camera can see me and the phone unlocks. Alternatively, I could pick up the phone for a second and point it at my face, but now that the sides of the phone are squared off instead of rounded, the phone is fairly difficult to pick up. It's easier to lean over like an idiot.

Remind me, why is this better?

 

[eyoungren]

Recently upgraded from an SE to a 16e. All my friends with newer iPhones assured me that I would love Face ID.

Me: What if I want to unlock my phone and my face isn't in front of it?
Friends: When are you trying to use your phone without looking at it? That obviously never happens.

Turns out, it happens several times per day for me.

There are multiple times per day when I have my phone set on my desk, or on a restaurant table, or on my bed, and the phone is pointed up and I'm using it from an angle. So my face isn't directly in front of the phone, but the phone is still perfectly usable.

Touch ID worked fine in those scenarios (obviously) and Face ID doesn't (obviously).

So I have to lean over the phone like an idiot so the camera can see me and the phone unlocks. Alternatively, I could pick up the phone for a second and point it at my face, but now that the sides of the phone are squared off instead of rounded, the phone is fairly difficult to pick up. It's easier to lean over like an idiot.

Remind me, why is this better?

I guess I just don't use my phone in the same manner.

I have previews on my lockscreen set to show only if looking at the phone. So, I actually have to pick it up to see the previews. I don't mind that, because if it's something I want to view or respond to, I'm already looking at the phone and just have to swipe up.

Also, my current iPhone is the 11 Pro Max which has round sides. Unlike others (yourself included) I find it harder to grab round sides than it is to grab flat sides. My iPhone 5 is MUCH easier to pick up! It has flat sides. Round sides are also a PITA to hold longer because there is less surface area to contact with my fingers and I have to grip harder than I do a flat sided phone.

My upgrade path looks like this: iPhone 5 (flat sides), iPhone 6+ (round sides), iPhone 6s+ (round sides), Pixel 3a XL (round sides), iPhone 11 Pro Max (round sides). So, I've had round sides for almost 10 years now (since 2015). I'm DONE with round sides!

Anyway…if you turn off 'Require Attention for Face ID' that may help. Settings App>Accessibility>Physical and Motor section>Face ID & Attention.

 

[russell_314]

Recently upgraded from an SE to a 16e. All my friends with newer iPhones assured me that I would love Face ID.

Me: What if I want to unlock my phone and my face isn't in front of it?
Friends: When are you trying to use your phone without looking at it? That obviously never happens.

Turns out, it happens several times per day for me.

There are multiple times per day when I have my phone set on my desk, or on a restaurant table, or on my bed, and the phone is pointed up and I'm using it from an angle. So my face isn't directly in front of the phone, but the phone is still perfectly usable.

Touch ID worked fine in those scenarios (obviously) and Face ID doesn't (obviously).

So I have to lean over the phone like an idiot so the camera can see me and the phone unlocks. Alternatively, I could pick up the phone for a second and point it at my face, but now that the sides of the phone are squared off instead of rounded, the phone is fairly difficult to pick up. It's easier to lean over like an idiot.

Remind me, why is this better?

Just out of curiosity, what are you doing with your phone that you could do without looking at it? Do you have all the motions on the touchscreen memorized for things?


I don’t think looking at your phone makes you look like an idiot. Maybe that’s some insecurity but everyone looks at their phone when they’re holding it. I would look at someone tapping on their phone while staring at something else a little bit more suspiciously.

 

[aihpcfl]

Well, different strokes. If I'm home and I have to pick up my phone to look at it and unlock it, no biggie. Nowadays, when out, like in a restaurant or pub, the phone is either in my hand or in a pocket, never out on the table.

 

[geta]

You're absolutely right, Touch ID is much better!

 

[NoBoMac]

What @aihpcfl said.

And usual things: don't have to deal with taking off gloves, wet/dirty fingers, cuts on the finger.

And for a while now, for me, TI refuses to recognize some of my prints, no matter how many/often times I try to re-register the finger(s) on my iPad.

Sure, I've had some trouble with FI in very bright sunshine situations, but has been a lot more reliable that TI for me.

Upgraded to a 13 Mini in 2023 due to size and it has Face ID. Only two things I care about in my phones these days, everything else is of no importance to me.

 

[CharlesShaw]

This is why I've loved my Apple Watch from day one.

 

[motrek]

Just out of curiosity, what are you doing with your phone that you could do without looking at it? Do you have all the motions on the touchscreen memorized for things?

To be clear, I _am_ looking at my phone, it's just that my face is not in front of it. In other words, my face/head are not within range of the IR camera.

I can very easily use my phone when it's sitting on a flat surface and my head is at a 45 degree angle to it. I'm guessing at the number of degrees but it feels like maybe 45. And I do this fairly often.

I don’t think looking at your phone makes you look like an idiot. Maybe that’s some insecurity but everyone looks at their phone when they’re holding it. ...

The point is that I'm _not_ holding my phone.

Imagine that your phone is on a table or a desk in front of you, facing upwards, and you're trying to unlock it. You look like an idiot when you have to move closer to your phone and bend your head over so it's directly in front of the IR camera.

Sort of like those desk toys where it's a bird that bobs its head up and down.

 

[eyoungren]

This is why I've loved my Apple Watch from day one.

Never got one, don't want one. If I ever have one, it will be because someone strapped it on to my wrist without my consent.

 

[traveltoromantis]

You can trick Face ID to work laying flat on a table. Set up an "alternate appearance", let it start to capture your face... then set it on a table and look over the phone for the most unflattering, double-chin setup ever. It may take a few tries, but once it works it works.

 

[attohs]

Disable auto lock. Now you’re not bobbing like a bird. When my phone is flat on the table in front of me it unlocks perfectly fine, and that’s about 55-degrees off being perpendicular to the sensor.

 

[VisceralRealist]

For the most part, I prefer Face ID. I think there are more situations in which Touch ID fails to unlock than Face ID, but that doesn't mean it's perfect. For me it's mainly an issue when it doesn't recognize me in certain sunglasses or refuses to unlock when I'm using it in bed and yawning (it doesn't seem to like the distorted, yawning face lol).

 

[russell_314]

To be clear, I _am_ looking at my phone, it's just that my face is not in front of it. In other words, my face/head are not within range of the IR camera.

I can very easily use my phone when it's sitting on a flat surface and my head is at a 45 degree angle to it. I'm guessing at the number of degrees but it feels like maybe 45. And I do this fairly often.


The point is that I'm _not_ holding my phone.

It’s not something I do, but I can understand someone doing it. I was just curious that if you had some really good memory of where everything was on your phone so you can use it without looking. I remember when phones like the blackberry were popular in the advantage is you could use that keyboard without looking. Maybe some people can use a touchscreen without looking, but I can’t.

Imagine that your phone is on a table or a desk in front of you, facing upwards, and you're trying to unlock it. You look like an idiot when you have to move closer to your phone and bend your head over so it's directly in front of the IR camera.

Sort of like those desk toys where it's a bird that bobs its head up and down.

I could see that looking goofy. I would pick up my phone before I tried to stretch my head and neck over my desk. With my luck, I would somehow pop something in my neck and then have to explain to the doctor how I got injured 😂

Hopefully one of the tricks people suggested works for you

 

[Mrbobb]

In a not so distance feature, scientists discover every living organism put out a distinct magnetic field signature, that will be our next personal RFID

 

[IJustWannaTalk]

Imagine that your phone is on a table or a desk in front of you, facing upwards, and you're trying to unlock it. You look like an idiot when you have to move closer to your phone and bend your head over so it's directly in front of the IR camera.

Has anyone told you this?

 

[cjsuk]

<< Insert "you're holding it wrong" joke. >>

 

[CyberDavis]

I’ve never had an issue with Face ID, adjusts works ok for me.
And I guess I’ve never had an issue moving handset so it works.
But I guess I can sort of understand the original posters issue.🤷🏽

 

[Mat Jam Car]

Never had a problem with Face ID, it always recognises my ugly mug whenever I need it too.

 

[1rottenapple]

Recently upgraded from an SE to a 16e. All my friends with newer iPhones assured me that I would love Face ID.

Me: What if I want to unlock my phone and my face isn't in front of it?
Friends: When are you trying to use your phone without looking at it? That obviously never happens.

Turns out, it happens several times per day for me.

There are multiple times per day when I have my phone set on my desk, or on a restaurant table, or on my bed, and the phone is pointed up and I'm using it from an angle. So my face isn't directly in front of the phone, but the phone is still perfectly usable.

Touch ID worked fine in those scenarios (obviously) and Face ID doesn't (obviously).

So I have to lean over the phone like an idiot so the camera can see me and the phone unlocks. Alternatively, I could pick up the phone for a second and point it at my face, but now that the sides of the phone are squared off instead of rounded, the phone is fairly difficult to pick up. It's easier to lean over like an idiot.

Remind me, why is this better?

Yah I hear you. I use my iPad mini and it’s really convenient authenticating with the button. I too would like to give up faced id in favor of Touch ID but oh well. Apple says Face ID is better and there you go.

I was using a pixel fold and the combination camera authentication and Touch ID was perfect!!

 

[macbookj0e]

Recently upgraded from an SE to a 16e. All my friends with newer iPhones assured me that I would love Face ID.

Me: What if I want to unlock my phone and my face isn't in front of it?
Friends: When are you trying to use your phone without looking at it? That obviously never happens.

Turns out, it happens several times per day for me.

There are multiple times per day when I have my phone set on my desk, or on a restaurant table, or on my bed, and the phone is pointed up and I'm using it from an angle. So my face isn't directly in front of the phone, but the phone is still perfectly usable.

Touch ID worked fine in those scenarios (obviously) and Face ID doesn't (obviously).

So I have to lean over the phone like an idiot so the camera can see me and the phone unlocks. Alternatively, I could pick up the phone for a second and point it at my face, but now that the sides of the phone are squared off instead of rounded, the phone is fairly difficult to pick up. It's easier to lean over like an idiot.

Remind me, why is this better?

I had the same thinking myself when I went from Touch ID to Face ID. I missed being able to unlock the phone when it was flat on the table.

It’s probably not the answer you want but honestly you’ll forget all about it when you’ve had the phone longer. At least I did.

 

[Tig_one]

Touch ID > Face ID

 

[ThomasJL]

In the early days of Macs, there was no passcode. Then came Macs offering a choice of no passcode or a passcode. And finally came Macs offering a choice of no passcode, a passcode, or Touch ID.

So it’s fallacious to say that iPhones cannot be made with both Touch ID and Face ID on the same iPhone in order to give users a choice.

Since Touch ID is used on literally all current Macs and all current non-Pro iPads, it makes no sense for Apple to not include Touch ID on iPhones.

 

[eyoungren]

Since Touch ID is used on literally all current Macs and all current non-Pro iPads, it makes no sense for Apple to not include Touch ID on iPhones.

It makes no sense to you. But you're thinking like a customer. Whomever makes these decisions is thinking like a profit minded business. You can argue that making the customer happy would benefit business. But unless making customers happy benefits the shareholder more than it does the customer, we aren't the priority.

Apple does things that makes sense to their bottom line - not because it makes sense to its customers.

 

[CharlesShaw]

Never got one, don't want one. If I ever have one, it will be because someone strapped it on to my wrist without my consent.

It's so inspiring to know that people are avoiding "newer" Apple technology. Keep up the good work, as you're an inspiration to us all. Me? I'll probably be wearing an Apple Watch when I die, unless I'm lucky enough to die in my sleep at home in my bed with my Watch on the nightstand.

 

[RSB96]

Personally, I prefer Face ID to Touch ID, and the difference is quite significant.

Touch ID on my iPad mini and on the iPhones I've had with Touch ID has been quite erratic. On the other hand, Face ID has been much more reliable in my experience. In my opinion, it would be much better if all devices had Face ID.