Why unlock on Android is better than Face ID on iPhone

Recently, we have become accustomed to believing that Face ID on the iPhone is the best and safest smartphone protection system.

In principle, the way it is – for many years, manufacturers of Android devices have not learned how to make at least a slightly similar facial recognition technology. However, not everything is so clear-cut here. If you directly choose between Face ID on iPhone and fingerprint, coupled with face scanning on Android, I personally would choose the latter.

To a person who has never used Apple technology, this may seem like babbling, but, in fact, the reasons are more than significant.

Disadvantages of Face ID unlock system 

Many Android smartphone owners may think that Face ID is the ideal technology that all mobile device manufacturers should strive for. To be convinced of the opposite, you just need to ask any Yabloko about the cons of Face ID .

I assure you, the list of shortcomings will be very impressive. I used the iPhone 11 as my main phone for a while and am extremely glad I got rid of it.

Here are just the main disadvantages of Face ID , which I managed to find in a couple of months of use:

• Random purchases in the app store and websites.
• After unlocking Face ID, you have to swipe. On Android, you can use your fingerprint straight up.
• Face ID is inconvenient to use when wearing a mask.
• On the iPhone, it is inconvenient to watch videos in landscape orientation.
• The bangs on the iPhone look disgusting.

The first and most important disadvantage is random purchases. Our colleagues constantly talk about messages like They wrote off money for an Apple subscription , what should I do? The bottom line is that when buying applications in the App Store on iPhone, people often press the wrong button, then in a panic they press the screen lock button and the purchase is automatically paid.

Secondly, Face ID is a long time. Every time I unlocked my iPhone, I had to swipe to start using the phone. Again, extremely inconvenient. On Android, everything is simple: clicked on the scanner, the menu opened. On the iPhone, you have to do a little more body movements: while you took the phone, pressed the power button, waited for the reading, made a swipe, and only then got into the phone itself.

The rest is all subjective. It was really inconvenient to use the iPhone 11 in the mask, but on the iPhone 12 and newer models, Apple has already solved this issue programmatically. Plus, I like watching videos on Android phones more. No cut edges for you due to bangs and other flaws. Well, I’m generally silent about the aesthetics of the bangs, then let everyone decide for themselves.

Face ID Security

To be fair, Face ID is currently the most secure way to unlock your phone. Yabloko managed to achieve this result due to the volume-spatial face scanner.

Its advantage is that it scans a three-dimensional image rather than a flat drawing. This can be achieved thanks to a special projector that can analyze more than 30k infrared points and a special camera that reads the resulting image.

All these newfangled sensors and complex mechanisms inside the iPhone allow it to easily determine where the real person is and where the picture is. In Android smartphones, everything is much simpler. There, unlocking is carried out solely by IR sensors inside the camera itself.

And software algorithms are responsible for the difference between a person and a flat picture, which makes it impossible to pay for purchases using a scanner or perform other important procedures.

Therefore, you can not talk about the face scanner on Android, as a separate unit. The scanner should always be considered together with the print. And then these devices will sparkle with new colors.

Moreover, on many Android smartphones, for example, on Xiaomi, the manufacturer himself warns that the face scanning technology is unsafe and, when it comes to confidential data, it is better to use a fingerprint scanner or a classic PIN.

Fingerprint scanner repair

Like it or not, but in terms of repair in Android devices, everything is much simpler. Literally in every service center they can change fingerprint scanners and cameras on all popular models. No, it is clear that there may be problems with the repair of budget Chinese devices, but with some Xiaomi or OnePlus everything should be more than fine.

In general, for a long time, Apple refused in principle to allow users to repair Face ID . If suddenly water got into the iPhone or Face ID stopped working after the phone was dropped, then that’s it. Either buy a new phone, or go with a brick. Android-smartphones in this sense are much cooler.

Just recently, Cupertino announced a self-repair program, according to which each user can order the necessary components from Apple and repair their device on their own.

In theory, the issue of Face ID not working should be fixed, but given sanctions and supply restrictions, I wouldn’t be so optimistic.

What is the best way to unlock

However, for me personally, it does not seem that safer is better. I must say a little differently: more convenient means better. And here Android phones definitely win. Think for yourself! Every time you need to unlock your smartphone, all you need to do is put your finger on it.

If you need to pay for purchases or open a password manager, there is always a fingerprint. Well, if you really want a face scanner, it is always with you. But not as a main feature, but only in addition to the print.

The whole trouble with the iPhone is that, in fact, the user is not given any choice. All you have is a face scanner and nothing more. Well, if you want to unlock your phone or pay for purchases using a PIN code, you will have to wait until the scanner recognizes you and only then enter the necessary numbers.

What do you think? Have you ever used an iPhone? Which unlock system do you like best? Give feedback in our Telegram chat or in the comment section below, it will be interesting to read.