Apple is introducing the new Optic ID system on the Vision Pro headset, but will we see it elsewhere? Apple’s biometric security launched with the iPhone 5S in 2013 and transitioned to Face ID with the iPhone X in 2017. Could Optic ID be the next step for Apple security, or will it be limited to certain devices?
Will Optic ID come to iPhone, iPad, or Mac?
So far, Apple has only confirmed Optic ID for the Apple Vision Pro. This feature will likely remain exclusive to Apple’s AR headsets because that’s the only place where it’s necessary.
The Vision Pro can’t use Face ID since its inward cameras only see the upper part of your head. However, they’re in a perfect, stable spot to read your retina. In contrast, Face ID is meant to measure your face from various angles and even works if you’re wearing a face mask as of the release of iOS 15.4 on iPhone 12 and newer.
Optic scans have been used as security on phones before. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 could register a user’s retinal pattern and use it to unlock the device. However, the retinal scan was probably the second-most criticized feature of the phone, getting beat out only by its predilection toward spontaneously combusting.
From the company’s behavior, we can infer that Apple isn’t too interested in introducing any new or secondary biometric security features to its phones. Even at the height of the COVID pandemic, Apple chose to continue to refine Face ID instead of implementing Touch ID. Also, we’ve heard rumors for years that the company is planning an under-screen fingerprint reader, but somehow it’s always just a year away.
So, don’t expect to see Optic ID on anything other than the Apple Vision Pro. It’s a security solution that’s right for that device’s unique form factor. We’ll bet that iPhone, iPad, and Mac will stick with Face ID or Touch ID.
