New in OS X: Get MacRumors Push Notifications on your Mac

Resubscribe Now Close

Apple Says Face ID Didn't Fail Onstage During iPhone X Keynote

Wednesday September 13, 2017 10:18 pm PDT by Juli Clover
During an iPhone X demo conducted by Craig Federighi in yesterday's keynote, Face ID appeared to fail to recognize his face, leading to doubts about the feature's reliability and accuracy.


There was a lot of speculation about just what went wrong on stage, ranging from a Face ID failure to a passcode lock, and according to Apple, it was the latter issue that caused the device not to work properly on stage. In a statement provided to Yahoo's David Pogue, Apple says the device locked after several people interacted with it ahead of Federighi, causing it to require a passcode to unlock.
Tonight, I was able to contact Apple. After examining the logs of the demo iPhone X, they now know exactly what went down. Turns out my first theory in this story was wrong--but my first UPDATE theory above was correct: "People were handling the device for stage demo ahead of time," says a rep, "and didn't realize Face ID was trying to authenticate their face. After failing a number of times, because they weren't Craig, the iPhone did what it was designed to do, which was to require his passcode." In other words, "Face ID worked as it was designed to."
While Touch ID locks the iPhone and requires users to input a passcode after five failed entry attempts, Face ID only allows for two failed recognition attempts before it locks the iPhone and requires a passcode to access the device, according to developer documentation. There were arguments over how many times Federighi attempted to unlock the iPhone X with Face ID while on stage given that two attempt limitation, but Apple's explanation makes sense. A secondary iPhone X unlocked with no issues during the demonstration.

The ins and outs of Face ID and its reliability will remain largely unknown until the iPhone X launches in November and is in the hands of customers. Members of the media received hands-on time with the device following the event, but reviews were somewhat mixed. Most people were generally impressed with Face ID and saw it work seamlessly, but there was also at least one report of a problems with the feature not working until the display was turned on and off.

Face ID uses infrared scanning techniques to create a mathematical model of a user's face, which is compared to a facial scan stored on the device to authenticate. Because it uses infrared, Face ID works in the dark and in low lighting conditions, and Apple says it also works with hats, glasses, and beards, makeup, and other items that might partially obscure the face.

Related Roundup: iPhone X
[ 528 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
pgharavi
25 months ago
I knew it. I always trust apple. God bless them.
Rating: 60 Votes
Avatar
ErikGrim
25 months ago

So what this means is if I am showing an article to my friends or showing my friends what is on the lockscreen display the phone is going to go into "require a passcode mode" after it gets passed around to 3 of my friends to laugh after it gets back to me?

Only if you lock the phone before you pass it to your friends.
Rating: 58 Votes
Avatar
Starfyre
25 months ago
So what this means is if I am showing a funny text on my lockscreen to my friends... the phone is going to go into "require a passcode mode" after it gets passed around to 3 of my friends before it gets back to me?

If this were Touch ID, this wouldn't be an issue. I don't think each one of my friends would be "touching the home button" of my phone with each of their fingers. (sounds dirty)
Rating: 39 Votes
Avatar
ErikGrim
25 months ago
Makes completely sense. Works as intended.
Rating: 34 Votes
Avatar
Jsameds
25 months ago

So what this means is if I am showing a funny text on my lockscreen to my friends... the phone is going to go into "require a passcode mode" after it gets passed around to 3 of my friends before it gets back to me?


No since you looked at the screen first it would have already unlocked.
Rating: 30 Votes
Avatar
Ghost31
25 months ago
You people are ridiculous on so many levels. You have an issue with "oh no the face id thing failed! Ahhhh" then its confirmed that it didn't actually fail and you move onto the next thing you could conceivably be upset about "ohhh wow. So it didn't fail. BUT what if a bunch of random people are just staring at my locked phone??"

You people are just looking for reasons to be upset. Jesus Christ people. It's never ending. Dreaming up scenarios that most likely won't happen ala Touch ID "what if someone wants to rob you and cuts your finger off?!?!"

Just take a break and enjoy the current state of tech for a bit. We live in amazing times
Rating: 30 Votes
Avatar
BvizioN
25 months ago

Oh ok

First impressions sometimes can be the last tho?


I hope that's true. So I can buy the X on the first day.
Rating: 28 Votes
Avatar
fruitpunch.ben
25 months ago

('https://www.macrumors.com/2017/09/14/apple-face-id-didnt-fail-keynote/')
People were handling the device for stage demo ahead of time," says a rep, "and didn't realize Face ID was trying to authenticate their face.


"People who no longer work at Apple" the representative added.
Rating: 27 Votes
Avatar
MH01
25 months ago
Yay and nay. So if someone is admiring my phone etc, faceid will ask for my passcode ..... so always actively trying to unlock

Not a great experience
Rating: 20 Votes
Avatar
aidler
25 months ago
So in essence if you are the only person that ever comes near your iPhone it workes perfect. If not it's like the old days when there was only the passcode. Perfect - like magic
Rating: 15 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]