iPhone 13 May Feature Upgraded Face ID That Works With Masks and Foggy Glasses

Apple is currently testing new Face ID hardware that could allow users to unlock their iPhone while wearing a mask or foggy glasses, according to leaker Jon Prosser.

face id prototype 1Render of the upgraded ‌Face ID‌ prototype case.

Via his website FrontPageTech.com, Prosser explained that Apple is testing more advanced ‌Face ID‌ hardware using a case that fits snugly around an ‌iPhone‌ 12. The case allows the ‌iPhone‌ to bypass its built-in ‌Face ID‌ system to use that of the case instead.

Prosser believes that the prototype ‌Face ID‌ array matches the exact layout depicted in CAD files of the iPhone 13 from earlier this year. This is because the prototype ‌Face ID‌ hardware in the case is considerably narrower than that of the ‌iPhone‌ 12, which would line up with the slimmer notch that is expected on the ‌iPhone‌ 13 models.

The external ‌Face ID‌ hardware was apparently needed due to large-scale tests that were being performed to collect as much data as possible. This is said to have allowed Apple to give a large number of employees new hardware without distributing an unreleased ‌iPhone‌.

Participating employees were asked to wear combinations of face masks and glasses in a range of conditions to test the new hardware. Employees were simply asked to perform the tests but were not told what specific changes had been made to the ‌Face ID‌ sensor array in the case.

The new hardware reportedly allows iPhones to unlock with ‌Face ID‌ while wearing a mask, without the aid of an Apple Watch, and with foggy glasses.

While Prosser highlighted the striking similarity of the case's ‌Face ID‌ hardware with the expected smaller notch on the upcoming ‌iPhone‌ 13, it is not clear if this improved ‌Face ID‌ will arrive with the ‌iPhone‌ 13 or a future ‌iPhone‌ model.

The tests were apparently conducted recently, so Prosser suggested that if the improved ‌Face ID‌ is not immediately available with the ‌iPhone‌ 13, it could be introduced with a later software update.

Prosser elected to not share the images of the alleged prototype unit due to identifying marks found on it and shared a number of renders based on the images instead.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Feature 1

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Monday June 30, 2025 1:08 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are less than three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...
A18 Pro Chip

New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Spotted in Apple Code

Monday June 30, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
Apple is developing a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, according to findings in backend code uncovered by MacRumors. Earlier today, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip. The machine is expected to feature a 13-inch display, the A18 Pro chip, and color options that include silver, blue, pink, and yellow. MacRumors...
Apple Watch Ultra Night Mode Screen

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Launching Later This Year With Two Key Upgrades

Wednesday July 2, 2025 1:13 pm PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 appears to be nearly over, and it is rumored to feature both satellite connectivity and 5G support. Apple Watch Ultra's existing Night Mode In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on track to launch this year with "significant" new features, including satellite connectivity, which would let you...
iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Magsafe

iPhone 17 Pro's New MagSafe Design Revealed in Leaked Photo

Wednesday July 2, 2025 8:37 am PDT by
The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are rumored to have a slightly different MagSafe magnet layout compared to existing iPhone models, and a leaked photo has offered a closer look at the supposed new design. The leaker Majin Bu today shared a photo of alleged MagSafe magnet arrays for third-party iPhone 17 Pro cases. On existing iPhone models with MagSafe, the magnets form a...
macbook air spacegray purple

Apple Planning to Launch Low-Cost MacBook Powered By iPhone Chip

Monday June 30, 2025 3:20 am PDT by
Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In an article published on X, Kuo explained that the device will feature a 13-inch display and the A18 Pro chip, making it the first Mac powered by an iPhone chip. The A18 Pro chip debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro last year. To date, all Apple silicon Macs have contained M-series...
iOS 18

Apple Releases Second iOS 18.6 Public Beta

Tuesday July 1, 2025 10:19 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 updates to public beta testers, with the betas coming just a day after Apple provided the betas to developers. Apple has also released a second beta of macOS Sequoia 15.6. Testers who have signed up for beta updates through Apple's beta site can download iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 from the Settings app on a compatible...
Wi Fi WiFi General Feature

iOS 26 Adds a Useful New Wi-Fi Feature to Your iPhone

Wednesday July 2, 2025 6:36 am PDT by
iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 add a smaller yet useful Wi-Fi feature to iPhones and iPads. As spotted by Creative Strategies analyst Max Weinbach, sign-in details for captive Wi-Fi networks are now synced across iPhones and iPads running iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. For example, while Weinbach was staying at a Hilton hotel, his iPhone prompted him to fill in Wi-Fi details from his iPad that was already...
maxresdefault

Five Features Coming to AirPods Pro 3

Friday June 27, 2025 10:52 am PDT by
Apple hasn't updated the AirPods Pro since 2022, and the earbuds are due for a refresh. We're counting on a new model this year, and we've seen several hints of new AirPods tucked away in Apple's code. Rumors suggest that Apple has some exciting new features planned that will make it worthwhile to upgrade to the latest model. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Heal...
replay all time playlist apple music

Apple Music Debuts All-New Personalized Playlist

Monday June 30, 2025 7:16 am PDT by
As part of its 10-year celebrations of Apple Music, Apple today released an all-new personalized playlist that collates your entire listening history. The playlist, called "Replay All Time," expands on Apple Music's existing Replay features. Previously, users could only see their top songs for each individual calendar year that they've been subscribed to Apple Music, but now, Replay All...

Top Rated Comments

coachgq Avatar
50 months ago

The fact that this can't be done in software coupled with the R&D investment in hardware suggests that there is no intention to relegate mask-wearing to the dumpster of history.
I literally have no idea what you are trying to say here.
Score: 56 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mthomas184 Avatar
50 months ago
Stopped reading after the word Prosser
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nicroma Avatar
50 months ago

So… we’ll need that giant case on top of the phone to unlock it? Or that was just for internal testing? I sincerely hope the latter
It's for testing. This allowed for many Apple employees to help test new hardware without having to hand out prototype iPhone 13 models to everyone. Hence the article saying "large scale tests." It seems multiple people in the comments here didn't even read the post.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KingofGotham1 Avatar
50 months ago

I'm lost. So users would have to pay extra to buy an accessory to bypass FaceID's inability to work properly?
Does anyone read anymore??
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DieAllianz Avatar
50 months ago
Stop that Money wasting **** and give the customer TouchID back! They want it and they need it ?
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DesertDrummer Avatar
50 months ago
People. RTFA. Please!
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)