Video: The iPhone X ultimate Face ID test

AppleInsider · November 3, 2017 11:14PM

A centerpiece feature of Apple's iPhone X is Face ID, which completely replaces Touch ID. Here's how -- and how well -- the technology works in practice.

Be sure to check out our full review of the iPhone X by Daniel Eran Dilger.

For more reviews, news, tips, features and more, subscribe to AppleInsider on YouTube.

tshapi · November 3, 2017 11:40PM

I think it’s a certain percentage of the face. That it needs to recognize to unlock.

pausa · November 4, 2017 12:20AM

Hi! In the video, you said that Face ID didn't work when your eyes were closed which you suggested would prevent someone from pointing the phone at you to unlock it if you had phone asleep and they had access to your phone. But later in the video you said it worked while you were wearing sunglasses. Did you mean that FaceID recognized you? If so, that would seem to contradict the eyes-closed test, right? And wouldn't that mean that someone could access your phone (by pointing it at you) if you had fallen asleep with your sunglasses on? Just want to see if I understood the video correctly. Thanks!

soli · November 4, 2017 12:45AM

pausa said:

Hi! In the video, you said that Face ID didn't work when your eyes were closed which you suggested would prevent someone from pointing the phone at you to unlock it if you had phone asleep and they had access to your phone. But later in the video you said it worked while you were wearing sunglasses. Did you mean that FaceID recognized you? If so, that would seem to contradict the eyes-closed test, right? And wouldn't that mean that someone could access your phone (by pointing it at you) if you had fallen asleep with your sunglasses on? Just want to see if I understood the video correctly. Thanks!

IR will penetrate most sunglasses. His eyes would still have to be open behind the sunglasses, though. There is a specific wavelength that some sunglasses block (940nm wavelength) which will prevent Face ID from working because it won't be able to read your eyes.

PS: It'll be interesting to see sunglasses start to advertise that their glasses work with the iPhone X.

edited November 2017

ny1822 · November 4, 2017 1:45AM

When you take the percent of people that won’t be able to unlock their IPhone X due to them wearing a mask, helmet, face protection (ie: certain jobs that require it), compared to the percent of people who wear gloves and can’t unlock their phone with Touch ID due to them wearing gloves; it’s probably a wash, so in that case, the more secure technology should be welcomed. I think it’s great bc lots of times I get out of the shower (listening to AppleInsider Podcast), and I want to access the control settings on my phone to check a text and I can’t use Touch ID bc my hands are wet...

ny1822 · November 4, 2017 1:46AM

We need a shaving cream test on the face!!! Real world test when shaving....will it work?
i say yes bc it should read your eyes and nose even though the contour of your face is hidden from shaving cream.

slurpy · November 4, 2017 2:43AM

Utterly remarkable technology. Even more remarkable is the form-factor they fit it in, and that its a product that is being mass produced in the tens of millions.

lukecage · November 4, 2017 3:57AM

Very informative video

radarthekat · November 4, 2017 3:57AM

The old Groucho Marx glasses and nose test. Great idea, Chief. You had me fooled.
- M. Smart

boltsfan17 · November 4, 2017 3:57AM

I'm actually really impressed with Face ID. I tried it wearing a hat with sunglasses on and Face ID worked perfectly. Before I received the X today, I was a bit worried I would like Touch ID better. After using the phone all day, I'm really loving Face ID. It's pretty awesome technology.

edited November 2017

slurpy · November 4, 2017 4:42AM

boltsfan17 said:

I'm actually really impressed with Face ID. I tried it wearing a hat with sunglasses on and Face ID worked perfectly. Before I received the X today, I was a bit worried I would like Touch ID better. After using the phone all day, I'm really loving Face ID. It's pretty awesome technology.

The pattern is, there's a good chance anyone who actually gives it a shot will prefer it over Touch ID. The concern-trolling about how horrible it will be, by people who have never used it but just KNOW it will be horrible, has been unbelievable.

gmgravytrain · November 4, 2017 4:43AM

I can almost guarantee all the flagship Android smartphones will be following Apple down the 3D facial recognition trail. Apple is getting so much attention from Face ID and those Android smartphone manufacturers won't be able to tolerate iPhone X stealing their limelight. Even if they had planned using something else or were happy with their fingerprint sensor technology, they'll have no choice but to toss it aside and copy Apple. I honestly don't think most consumers would be unhappy to continue using the fingerprint reader since it works so well, but the Android smartphone companies simply won't allow Apple to have Face ID to itself. That is really sad.

rayz2016 · November 4, 2017 5:08AM

slurpy said:

boltsfan17 said:

I'm actually really impressed with Face ID. I tried it wearing a hat with sunglasses on and Face ID worked perfectly. Before I received the X today, I was a bit worried I would like Touch ID better. After using the phone all day, I'm really loving Face ID. It's pretty awesome technology.

The pattern is, there's a good chance anyone who actually gives it a shot will prefer it over Touch ID. The concern-trolling about how horrible it will be, by people who have never used it but just KNOW it will be horrible, has been unbelievable.

Why? We see it every single time Apple introduces a new product. Look at the number of people wh9 insisted the MacBook Pro was junk before they’d even seen one.

anantksundaram · November 4, 2017 5:35AM

slurpy said:

Utterly remarkable technology. Even more remarkable is the form-factor they fit it in, and that its a product that is being mass produced in the tens of millions.

Indeed. I was thinking the same thing. Truly astonishing.

Btw, 'tens'? It'll be comfortably in the many many many hundreds of millions by the time this technology is done.

pscooter63 · November 4, 2017 1:18PM

Soli said:

It'll be interesting to see sunglasses start to advertise that their glasses work with the iPhone X.

You'd think they would follow the same trajectory as touchscreen gloves.

soli · November 4, 2017 2:59PM

pscooter63 said:

Soli said:
It'll be interesting to see sunglasses start to advertise that their glasses work with the iPhone X.

You'd think they would follow the same trajectory as touchscreen gloves.

I think it will. I debated wording my statement as "I wonder…" or "I could see… ," but I opted for "it'll be interesting to see…" when I considered that capacitance touchscreen-compatible gloves became a thing soon after the iPhone hit the market.

One thing could be different with sunglasses as capacitance is effectively universal, but other smartphone vendors can use different IR wavelengths when they follow Apple's lead with face recognition unlocking as a standard (and even Apple could adjust their IR wavelength) which could potentially lead to usability issues. Still, if that happens it'll be minor. Even now we have some Qi chargers that won't work with the Series 3 Watch and that's not a big deal.

edited November 2017

rdevillers · November 4, 2017 3:18PM

Great video! Thanks for posting it so quickly.

edited November 2017

rayz2016 · November 4, 2017 3:45PM

That’s what I call a proper test: demonstrates the good points and the bad with real life examples (except the Groucho Marx disguise).

tkrunner1738 · November 4, 2017 6:45PM

It would be nice to see how in the ads it shows a woman I’m with a wet face but hair back in a pool and shoes the dots reaching her when the phone is flat, how far away it can be from say the pools edge to reach your face , maybe 45 degrees is the limit or maybe less.

sree · November 5, 2017 12:57PM

I expected a test in the sunlight, since that is where there are reports of issues due to the IR sensor having a problem with sunlight.
Not a thorough enough review.

foggyhill · November 5, 2017 8:19PM

sree said:

I expected a test in the sunlight, since that is where there are reports of issues due to the IR sensor having a problem with sunlight.
Not a thorough enough review.

The "issues" (sic) were already edge case (meaning already hard when no in sunlight) like at angle, belt level crap test from the verge's resident Apple troll Patel.

Anything happening on Youtube by some random dweeb is 100% garanteed click bait and can't be trusted.

Video: The iPhone X ultimate Face ID test

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