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Comment by itsreallyme | Hacker News Reader

I’d love to upgrade to these epic new phones, but I won’t, because FaceID…

Removing the fingerprint reader ruined the usability for me.

If anything, usability is better.

I was skeptical, but after seeing that notification texts are hidden by default until I look at the phone, I was then quickly sold on the value.

The added screen real state due to the lack of a home button compensates for the required notch and then some.

I just upgraded and honestly FaceID is really nice. I loved TouchID but there were plenty of times it didn't work because my fingers were too moist or whatever. FaceID really doesn't have any issues other than using it too close to your face.

I wish you could teach it multiple faces, because it doesn’t work for me if I have stuff on my head, like a bike helmet and sunglasses, or ski goggles, etc

In iOS 12 you can set an alternate face. You know have two total faces you can set for FaceID.

Amazing. I did not know this, thanks!

Huh. My iPhone X works perfectly with FaceID, since iOS11, clipped to my bicycle handlebars. I swipe up, glance down, and it recognizes me + bike helmet + polarized sport sunglasses + blue sky behind me. Seems like that's about as tough a use case as it could get short of a scarf covering my face (in which case I don't really think I want FaceID to work anyway).

Could be that your sunglasses block the faceID scanner. I have some brands of sunglasses that do not work with faceID, but other brands that work perfectly. I imagine it depends on the filter they apply to the lenses.

It works fine for me with safety goggle, bike helmet, etc.

Actually, you can. iOS 12 supports "alternate appearances" - you can find it in Face ID settings.

Do you really want anyone with a helmet to be able to unlock it?

iOS 12 now supports this. I don't know how well it will work with a helmet or ski goggles though, but it's worth a shot!

Would you care to elaborate on what you find objectionable about Face ID? Just like the fingerprint reader, all data is stored on the device secure enclave, and does not leave the phone. And it's been pretty much fast enough for me since the X. (I don't notice much change in speed for the XS but it's probably a bit faster.)

Not GP, but there are three big downgraded use cases:

- Apple Pay ("double-tap the side and look at the phone, then set it on the terminal" is not remotely as fluid as "rest your thumb on the fingerprint reader and touch the phone to the terminal")

- Unlock the phone while it is laying flat on a table/desk in front of you so you can read a notification without picking the phone up and drawing attention that you are doing this.

- Remove the phone from your pocket and press in on the home button with a registered finger so it is fully unlocked and 100% ready to go by the time you can see it in your field of vision.

Overall, however, I am much more bullish on the long term value of Face ID and the phone knowing whether you are paying attention to it or not that I have accepted these downgrades. There are also several upgraded experiences.

I find quite the opposite. I wouldn't go back to fingerprint. I wished that my macbook had faceid.

FaceId on the macbook would be a game changer.

Like Windows Hello?

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