Apple’s iPad can be a great compromise for those looking for something between a smartphone and a laptop. Looking at something like the iPad Air M4, its 11- or 13-inch display options may be ideal for those looking for a super portable machine, and Touch ID ensures your data stays protected. Setting up Touch ID will likely be one of the first things you do when you set up your iPad (and we have other setup tips, too), but users should know why it’s used over Face ID on some devices.
Apple’s Touch ID relies on your fingerprint to unlock your device or certain features of apps like Apple Pay, while Face ID relies on facial scanning. As useful as Face ID can be, unfortunately it’s only available on the iPad Pro. Other iPad models still rely on Touch ID, and Apple could do so to further separate the iPad Pro from other devices in the lineup. There’s also the issue that Face ID requires some hardware that other iPads don’t have.
Those who own an iPad shouldn’t feel too bad, as many Mac users are also wondering if Apple will ever replace a Mac’s Touch ID with Face ID. Since virtually every iPhone since the iPhone Even if getting Face ID means paying extra, Apple is at least doing its best to justify the higher cost.
Why do iPads still use Touch ID?
The reason is mainly hardware limitations and product fragmentation. Launched in September 2017, Face ID is Apple’s way of using biometric data to provide security for certain Apple products. However, many iPad owners still have to rely on Touch ID because Face ID is only available in the iPad Pro line. One reason for this is that Face ID uses Apple’s TrueDepth camera, which scans your face using invisible dots to measure your face.
Currently, only the following iPad Pro models support Face ID:
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iPad Pro M4 and M5 13-inch and 11-inch
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12.9-inch iPad Pro, third to sixth generations
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The first four generations of the 11-inch iPad Pro
These models have the hardware to support this feature, and there may also be a reason for it. For example, 9to5Mac says leaving Face ID on higher-end models helps differentiate them from devices like the iPad Air or base iPad. Before the iPad went OLED, the only major differences between an iPad Air and the iPad Pro were a 120Hz display, a faster processor, and the aforementioned Face ID, despite a $200 price difference. However, Apple could eventually introduce Face ID to more iPad models, as OLED and things like a Magic Keyboard can help further justify the iPad Pro’s price. While there are still plenty of older iPads worth buying, users should probably expect to unlock them with a finger rather than their face.
