Apple’s Face ID technology has been around for nearly a decade. First introduced with the iPhone X, it revolutionized biometric authentication on smartphones. Yet despite its success, Apple has largely kept Face ID confined to its iPhones and iPad Pro lineup. For almost four years now, rumors have swirled about Apple testing the facial recognition system for its Mac computers.
The earliest reports date back to 2021, when Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman predicted that Face ID would arrive on the Mac “within a couple of years.” At the time, he also suggested that Apple would eventually bring the sensor to all iPhones and iPads — a transition that has only partially materialized.
Since then, Apple has had several opportunities to debut Face ID on its computers: the redesigned 2021 MacBook Pro with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, the Studio Display with a built-in webcam, and potentially the next-generation MacBook Pro expected to feature an M6 chip and OLED display. But despite the speculation, Gurman now reports that fans hoping for Face ID on these upcoming devices may be disappointed.
Face ID on Mac is still years away
In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman writes that “Apple is exploring another major Mac change as well: a shift from the Touch ID fingerprint scanner to Face ID. But that remains years away.” He didn’t specify what’s behind the delay or what may have renewed Apple’s interest in facial authentication for Macs, but his comments suggest the company hasn’t abandoned the idea entirely.
Back in 2021, Apple’s marketing VP Tom Boger explained that Touch ID was favored over Face ID on Macs for convenience reasons — users’ hands are already on the keyboard. That argument made sense for traditional laptops, but as Apple increasingly experiments with hybrid form factors — including touch-enabled Macs, foldables, and Mac/iPad crossover devices — the balance could shift. In a more flexible computing environment, unlocking a device with just a glance might fit perfectly with Apple’s focus on seamless user experiences.
Whether Face ID eventually replaces Touch ID on the Mac remains to be seen, but it’s clear Apple is thinking about what comes next. BGR will keep an eye on developments as Apple continues to shape the future of biometric access across its product line.
