Future iMacs and MacBooks May Deploy FaceID Via Notch, Patents Revealed

Earlier this month, Apple released new MacBook Pro models with the new M1 Pro and M1 Max processors. The new MacBook Pro models have also seen a host of design changes, including the addition of an SD card and HDMI ports. However, the most notable change was the reduction of the bezels around the notched display at the top. One might wonder that the new MacBook Pro also has the Face ID technology found on iPhone models. Unfortunately, it is not. However, it looks like Apple may include Face ID in future iMacs and MacBooks.

Face ID on MacBook and iMac?

Patents filed by Apple in March 2020 suggest the company is already working on a notched iMac and maybe even Face ID. The documents, first discovered by Patently Apple, showed that one of the patents included a computing device capable of powering various systems. “Specifically, the computing device includes a cavity that can carry operating components (eg, camera, display, light pattern recognition module, processor, MLB, etc.),” the report says.

In addition, it shows that the user can provide credentials when configuring the device to provide biometric authentication. These include details such as the depth map of the user’s face, the profile of the user’s cornea, etc. Apple requires similar details for its Face ID technology on the iPhone.

Apple also mentioned in its patents that “the systems and methods may also be applicable to capturing facial gestures and emotions, video chatting, creating emoji, encrypting data, unlocking a computing device, adding passwords, differentiating different users, etc.”The images attached to the patent application further confirm the inclusion of Face ID technology in the MacBook Pro model.

Apple currently offers Touch ID based unlocking on its MacBook Pro models. While the current set of MacBook Pro models only have a 1080p webcam inside the notch, it looks like the next generation MacBook models may finally have Face ID.