Two years after the start of the pandemic, this new option was eagerly awaited by users.
Great novelty, soon facial recognition will work on an iPhone even if you wear a mask.
The American giant has made this feature possible with its iOS 15.4 version, available in beta since January 27, reports Numerama.
An option available in the settings now allows “use Face ID (
unlocking by facial recognition
) with a mask”.
The company said the iPhone could recognize "unique features around the eyes to authenticate" the user.
Unlocking the smartphone thus works with any mask, indicates the online media which tested the new feature.
A less secure technique
The American company, however, warned that Face ID was "more accurate" when configured for full face recognition.
In other words, the technique based on the upper part of the face alone remains less secure.
As a reminder, Face ID analyzes the points of the face in 3D and compares them to its reference image, the face of the owner of the device.
A hat or a pair of glasses already complicate the exercise, but a mask that covers the mouth and nose made it impossible until now.
The giant Apple had been working for many months to overcome this difficulty.
Read alsoHow to unlock your iPhone with a mask...and an Apple Watch
The iOS 15.4 version allowing this new functionality should not be available before March/April, underlines Numerama again, which recalls that in the meantime it should be possible to install the beta version.
Note however, only owners of a very recent iPhone (the iPhone 12 and 13 ranges) will be able to take advantage of this novelty.
