Apple is expected to release its new iPhone models, the iPhone 12 and 13, with Face ID. Face ID is a new feature that will allow users to unlock their devices with just their face. This is a major step up from the current security system, which requires a password.


We first learned about the change to Face ID yesterday, but Cult of Mac did a little extra investigating and found that you can only take advantage of unlocking your iPhone while wearing a mask if you have an iPhone 12 or 13. Older models will unlock as they always have, even after updating to iOS 15.4.

Additionally, after further testing, it was discovered that you could use Face ID with a mask with Apple Pay, which is a significant upgrade over the way Face ID and Apple Watch work on current iOS versions. You can also use it to unlock protected apps.

Currently, iOS 15.4 is in beta, so you’ll need to enroll in Apple’s beta program if you want to start unlocking your phone with a mask on. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until the new iOS version rolls out to the general public, which should be early in Spring 2022.

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