Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I thought for sure the wipe up would be annoying. FaceID is fast as hell on my device. I tap the screen and immediately swipe up and I'm at my home screen. I'm confident in saying its way faster than TouchID

It is, however, less convenient, requires more effort, and, because Face ID requires a physical swipe, doesn't solve the 'wet finger' Touch ID issue.

It's not a step forward. It's a lateral move.
 
I was really hesitant on how Face ID is executed, specifically in terms of swiping things. But now? It's the easiest, most convenient way of unlock phone I've used. As much as I loved Touch ID, Face ID makes basic gestures that previously required a password the easiest possible alternative. I love it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hobart9579
Exactly. It's EXTREMELY fast. Not to mention that the "swipe up" gesture serves a purpose. It's like this for a reason.

On paper, it'd make sense for your phone to unlock automatically anytime you look at it, but that would be so inconvenient. The gesture as-is is perfect. Don't knock it 'til you try it.
 
Okay. Then you do not yet know whether Face ID is less convenient or requires for effort.

Sure I do. It doesn't take much imagination (or reading posts today or watching owners videos) to understand the process completely.

The way Apple has implemented FID is for enhanced security, not enhanced convenience.
 
On paper, it'd make sense for your phone to unlock automatically anytime you look at it, but that would be so inconvenient. The gesture as-is is perfect. Don't knock it 'til you try it.
Yep. When I get notifications on my lock screen, I want to see what they are before deciding to full "open" my phone. Without the swipe up gesture, I'd never even get a glimpse of those notifications because Face ID insanely fast.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tig Bitties
Yep. When I get notifications on my lock screen, I want to see what they are before deciding to full "open" my phone. Without the swipe up gesture, I'd never even get a glimpse of those notifications because Face ID insanely fast.

And for the rest of us who don't get a ton of notifications and merely want to get to the home screen, FID is a disappointing inconvenience.

In other areas of the OS, seems to be better, like in banking apps, no more touch needed. That's great. But simply to unlock and get to the home screen the swipe gets in the way.
 
Simply amazes me every iPhone launch the most nit-picky things people want to focus on.... just ridiculous.

Folks, no one wants to hear this nonsense. Don't like the phone, take it back, don't buy it. Sheesh...
 
  • Like
Reactions: MinEderPlayz
Simply amazes me every iPhone launch the most nit-picky things people want to focus on.... just ridiculous.

Folks, no one wants to hear this nonsense. Don't like the phone, take it back, don't buy it. Sheesh...

Nit picky?

Unlocking to the home screen is only the most used function on the product, the average person does this 80x a day.
 
And for the rest of us who don't get a ton of notifications and merely want to get to the home screen, FID is a disappointing inconvenience.

In other areas of the OS, seems to be better, like in banking apps, no more touch needed. That's great. But simply to unlock and get to the home screen the swipe gets in the way.

I was also skeptical about losing Touch ID for Face ID. However, after having the X for half the day so far I can say it is SO MUCH more convenient and easy to use then I thought.

Like others have said, those that are mostly complaining are those folks who have not been hands on with Face ID yet.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MEJHarrison
I've noticed no discernible difference in readiness time from picking up the phone and swiping than picking up and scanning your fingerprint. I think people are probably more slowed down by having to get used to not having a home button than anything else. After a few hours with it, it really becomes a non-issue.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TheAppleGeek
I was also skeptical about losing Touch ID for Face ID. However, after having the X for half the day so far I can say it is SO MUCH more convenient and easy to use then I thought.

Like others have said, those that are mostly complaining are those folks who have not been hands on with Face ID yet.

Perhaps you are caught up in First Day Euphoria. Happens just as much as Non-Hands-On Skepticism.

We've all been there. When I first got my iPhone 6 I thought I could fly.
 
It is, however, less convenient, requires more effort, and, because Face ID requires a physical swipe, doesn't solve the 'wet finger' Touch ID issue.

It's not a step forward. It's a lateral move.

Passed wet finger test for me, because it is not relying on reading a fingerprint. Touch ID used to fail me all the time after a shower, at gym, etc. Face ID really is convenient. It is not an “effort” at all, it is quite seamless. You can swipe while it unlocks, you don’t have to sit there waiting for it to unlock first.
 
On my 7 Plus I quit using the touch ID. It was incredibly annoying and slow and most of the time didn't work at all. It was easier type the darn code in rather than use it. Face ID is seamless and I don't even realize I'm using it. I love it and don't miss that home button at all.

I started thinking maybe my Face ID wasn't turned on LOL ... I haven't even noticed it was there ... but it's on ... it just works so smoothly that it is totally unobtrusive.
 
Last edited:
Yeah, thats how the Android phones have it. Look and it unlocks. Clearly you can tell how failure to incorporate in-display TouchID has caused issues for the iPhone X to be that perfect device it could be.

Surely that was sarcasm Starfyre. Right???

EDIT: Oops....didn't notice that was from back in September. My bad.
 
Last edited:
Face ID is much slower than Touch ID, because when I pick up the phone with Touch ID, my finger is already unlocking the phone. By the time I look at it, it's already unlocked. But now, the phone won't start the unlock process until you look at it, and obviously the technology is not there yet (it may fail just like what happened in the event).

No, whether it's slower DEPENDS. For example, with Touch ID, if you get a text and you want to go straight into messages and reply, you need to swipe the text, then place your finger/thumb on Touch ID, and then you're in.

With Face ID? You get the text on your lock screen, and you just tap the text and you're already in because Face ID has unlocked the phone in that time. SO much faster.

So again - it's not as simple as saying that Touch ID is faster.

And hey, in the rain in Seattle? Face ID will be faster every single time, since Touch ID won't even work for me. :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: h9826790
Google and Samsung must be happy. A big party maybe?

Time for another Samsung Note for me probably. I had the first one. It was ok. Didn't like Android (it was a bit of a mess).

But this? Time will tell I guess.

The Note 8 and current version of TouchWiz are excellent. Worth another try. Apple is in a funk. Steve Jobs knew what we wanted before we knew. Cook has no clue.
 
  • Like
Reactions: fsfty
Passed wet finger test for me, because it is not relying on reading a fingerprint. It really is convenient. It is not “effort” at all, it is quite seamless. You can swipe while it unlocks, you don’t have to sit there waiting for it to unlock first.

I appreciate the feedback, and I'm really glad you are happy with your new phone. But lets dial it back for a second. It's not about "time". It's about effort. Let's look at iPhone history.

First we had Swipe To Unlock. Had to press a button, then swipe. That's 2 actions.

Then we had Passcode. Had to press a button, then enter a code with four more button presses. That's 5 actions.

Then we had Touch ID. Had to press and hold a button. That's 1 action.

Now comes Face ID. Have to press a button. Have to raise the phone to the correct position. Have to swipe. That's 2 or 3 actions.

It's not about speed. It's about effort. After a decade the trade-off of security vs. convenience was down to 1 action with Touch ID and with facial recognition it could have finally been down to 0 actions. Instead it's 2 actions. And 80x a day that really sucks.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.