All iPads Touch ID vs Face ID for iPad?

[Mad Mac Maniac]

There are currently 3 different variants of authentication on iPad. I've only owned a home button touch ID iPad (although I did test run the new iPad mini for couple weeks before returning). I've never tried Face ID on iPad. I feel like all have their pros/cons and I'm curious what the general consensus is on which is best. I actually really like my home button Touch ID, but I'm looking at possible options for my next upgrade. Please add your 2 cents and vote in the poll!

• iPad Home Button Touch ID:
  • Pro
    • Easy at a glance to see where/how you authenticate (and can use with mask)
  • Con
    • Requires fat top/bottom bezels
• iPad Air/Mini sleep/wake Touch ID:
  • Pro
    • Allows larger screen/smaller bezels (and can use with mask)
  • Con
    • Can be difficult to know which corner the button is on at a glance (symmetry) and may require hand adjusting to unlock
• iPad Pro Face ID
  • Pro
    • Allows automatic authentication without user input (and smaller bezels)
  • Con
    • Possibility of blocking camera while holding iPad
    • Can't use with mask (getting better due to latest iOS updates)

 

[sparksd]

Face ID - have on 12.9 iPP, 12 Pro Max & Surface Pro 7 but not on Mini 6 where I really miss it. I started out not caring about Face ID but I've come to want it on all of my devices. 15.4 Beta supports ID with mask on some newer models.

 

[jdb8167]

Another con for FaceId for me is that I’m very nearsighted and hold the iPad close to my face when not wearing my glasses. This happens when reading in bed and on the couch. When the iPad is too close to my face, FaceId doesn’t work. It always takes me few tries to unlock. Very annoying. TouchId doesn’t have this problem.

 

[rui no onna]

Kinda hating power button TouchID at the moment.

It works with my right index finger but it keeps failing with my left even after I've reprogrammed a couple of times. Seems pretty picky about angles, too. Home button TouchID was much more reliable for me.

With FaceMaskID on 15.4, I'm definitely liking FaceID better. My only complaint on non-Home Button iPads is you can't make the Home Bar disappear.

 

[wonderings]

I love FaceID, works so simply and quickly. FaceID with the Apple watch works with a mask on so that is simple and great as well.

 

[tekmoe]

Picked up an iPad mini last week and I have to say, after using my iPhone 12 Pro for over the past year, I've gotten spoiled with unlocking my phone using Face ID. That said, the Touch ID still works great and I've had no issues using it.

 

[VaruLV]

Face ID all the way, especially at home. Plus, now that Apple plans to release iOS update that will enable masked face to be recognized I dont see no drawbacks to it.

 

[snipr125]

IPad Air power button Touch ID all day, every day

(I cannot use Face ID for health reasons, hence why prefer power button Touch ID)

 

[harris.papazoglo]

ipad air with touch id on power button has never failed me. One more Pro is that the ipad can be used by multiple users (up to 4)

 

[Dfds]

Another vote for Face ID.

 

[MisterSavage]

You couldn't pay me to go back to Touch ID from Face ID on the iPad.

 

[nintendoswitch]

I wish my iPad 9 had faceID

 

[geta]

Only Touch ID! Never had a problem with the power button version on the Mini 6.
Wish iPhones will have the same Touch ID (or under the screen).

 

[spiderman0616]

I have now had my iPad mini 6 for three or four weeks and I forget it doesn't have FaceID at least once a day. I flip the cover open, swipe up to go home, nothing happens, and then I get annoyed all over again that I don't have FaceID. It's incredibly annoying, even more so than on the Mac and especially if you also have a Smart Folio or some other case on it, because they tend to get in the way of your fingerprint making good contact with the reader.

It's a small quibble though--I know why it needs to be there, and I'm over it. I love the mini 6 so much in general that it's hard to fault it for something that's obviously there to keep costs down. But I think the fact that I'm still not accustomed to it and have totally been trained by FaceID since iPhone X is really making it hard for me to adjust.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

Interesting. The poll results turned out about what I was expecting. I have to admit, selfishly part of my reason for posing the question is to start thinking about what I want my next iPad to be. However, honestly I really, really like home button touchID. Not only is it quick and easy to authenticate, but I also like the option of pressing it to go home (I switch back and forth between gestures and the button). In practice, I think I'll prefer FaceID to the sleep/wake TouchID, but I'm just concerned that I'll be constantly blocking the camera and need to be more aware of that (but honestly will probably become a subconscious thing quickly).

ipad air with touch id on power button has never failed me. One more Pro is that the ipad can be used by multiple users (up to 4)

This is an incredibly under appreciated point. Multi-user on iPad is arguably more important than multi-user on iPhone. Of course, until iPad gets full on multi-user support it won't be exceedingly useful.

 

[russell_314]

I cast my vote for Face ID even though I have an iPad Air with Touch ID. That’s because I didn’t feel my use case was worth spending the money for an iPad Pro. If Face ID was an option for the iPad Air I would’ve gotten it. Touch ID is terrible in my opinion. It works about 75% of the time for me. Face ID works over 99% of the time for me. I like the idea of putting my finger on a button to unlock it but it if it doesn’t work then it doesn’t work. Face ID just works.

 

[SalisburySam]

I like FaceID in preference to other authentications, but this is just the authentication component. I really (REALLY!) liked the Home button as a quick, reliable way to take you back to, well, home. The swipey-swipey version on my iPadPro and my wife’s iPadAir is cumbersome by comparison, doesn’t work wearing gloves, sometime doesn’t work if I don’t swipe correctly, and so on. Also, double-pressing the Home button instantly brings up the apps running, another use that translates weakly to the aforementioned swipey-swipey action. For me of course…YMMV.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I don’t care either way. My Air has TouchID in the power button and it works fine, no complaints. If my next iPad has FaceID then i’ll be used to it from using iPhones

 

[ArmCortexA8]

Don't use either of them as these devices are always with me and only I use them.