Craig Federighi: Face ID Works With Most Sunglasses, Can Be Quickly Disabled

Apple SVP Craig Federighi has responded to a customer email answering several questions about the new Face ID feature on the iPhone X.

The email, sent by MacRumors reader Keith Krimbel, inquired about how Face ID deals with a thief stealing your phone, pointing it at you to unlock, and then running away. Krimbel also asked about using the facial recognition feature with sunglasses.

Federighi also offers some more details about why his Face ID demo went sideways.


You can read the email below!

[via MacRumors]


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From: Craig Federighi
To: Keith Krimbel
Re: FacelD Questions and Concerns

Hi Keith,


The bio-lockout that I experienced on stage would require several interactions by other people with your phone (where they woke up the phone). For those of us who have been living on the the iPhone X over the last months this has never been a real problem (hence my shock when it happened to me on stage! :-)

- Will FaceID work with sunglasses?
With most, but not all. Most sunglasses let through enough IR light that FaceID can see your eyes even when the glasses appear to be opaque. it's really amazing!

- What will prevent a thief from taking my phone, pointing it at my face, and running?
There are two mitigations: if you don't stare at the phone, it won't unlock. Also, if you grip the buttons on both sides of the phone when your hand it over, it will temporarily disable FaceID.

Hope this helps!

- craig
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