Face ID for Mac is coming—just not anytime soon. Unlocking a Mac became a breeze when Touch ID arrived, but Apple is reportedly working on the next big step: bringing Face ID to its computers. If you’re waiting to upgrade in hopes of facial recognition landing on the very next MacBook, you might be waiting a while.
Touch ID debuted on the iPhone 5S in 2013 and made the jump to the MacBook Pro in 2016. Face ID arrived on the iPhone X in 2017, yet eight years later it still hasn’t shown up on a Mac. According to Mark Gurman, Apple is actively testing Face ID hardware for Macs, signaling a major shift away from fingerprint-only authentication. The catch is timing. There’s no clear launch window, and the project could be delayed—or even shelved—if it doesn’t meet Apple’s performance and reliability standards.
There are also big design questions still unanswered. Face ID requires specialized sensors for depth and infrared mapping. Will Apple place those components in a visible notch on future Mac displays, or will it wait until it can hide them under the screen for a seamless, all-screen look? The company is rumored to be exploring a full-screen iPhone with under-display Face ID as early as 2027, but even that isn’t guaranteed if accuracy or speed falls short. If under-display tech becomes viable, Macs could benefit in a similar way—but there’s no confirmation yet.
What does this mean for shoppers? Don’t postpone a Mac upgrade solely for Face ID. Touch ID remains fast, secure, and deeply integrated into macOS, and Face ID on Mac appears to be years away rather than months.
Bottom line: Face ID on Mac looks plausible and promising, but patience will be required. Apple is testing it, the engineering hurdles are significant, and the company won’t ship it until it’s confident the experience is seamless.
News source: Mark Gurman
