Apple has reportedly considered adding Face ID to the new 24-inch iMac. Now, reports say it's more likely that the Mac maker will build the biometric security feature into a desktop Mac display before the feature debuts in the MacBook.
Apple's introduction of a display notch in the 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro has opened up the possibility that Apple will integrate Face ID into the Mac as well. Although the notch strongly suggests that Face ID will be introduced in the future, it seems that Apple has taken a different direction for the transition. So reported Mark Gurman in his Bloomberg newsletter "Power On" said that Apple was considering Face ID for the 24-inch iMac rather than a MacBook Pro. It is claimed that "Face ID was already planned for the original M1 iMac." While the iMac did not have a notch, it was apparently a favorite for the feature because its display was thick enough to accommodate the components.
Face ID on the Mac could still be years away
The MacBook line has "pretty thin screens" that can accommodate the FaceTime HD camera but aren't deep enough to support Face ID. Because the MacBooks are so thin, Gurman believes that if Face ID does come to the Mac, it will "first be on an iMac or an external monitor." Apple has "definitely been working on it, but time will tell if they'll roll it out." Gurman's comments echo previous reports on the subject, including one from January 2021 that said Apple was working on the feature but it was unlikely to arrive in 2021. Later last year, it was claimed that Face ID wouldn't debut on the Mac for a couple of years. (Photo by hadrian / Bigstockphoto)