We recently reported that Apple's first OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro may launch in 2026. That’s a long-rumored feature that now seems likely to happen, according to Bloomberg reporter and Apple tipster Mark Gurman. However, in the same report, Gurman also said another long-awaited feature won’t be coming for years: Face ID for Macs.
According to Gurman, Apple plans to go from Touch ID on Macs to Face ID. The kicker is that this feature “remains years away.” If that sounds familiar, it’s because Gurman made the same statement back in 2021.
As MacRumors reports, Gurman claimed the M1 iMac would have Face ID, which is something that never manifested. The following year, in 2022, Gurman said Apple was still working on Face ID for Macs. Three years later, and we still haven’t gotten the feature.
Right now, we’re in the same spot as in 2021 regarding Face ID coming to Macs. That said, if MacBook Pros do indeed get touchscreen functionality, then perhaps we’ll see Face ID before the decade is over. That’s not a guarantee, but given how the current iPad Pro and iPad Air now all have Face ID, perhaps soon-to-come MacBook Pros with touchscreens might also include the feature.
Apple is exploring another major Mac change as well: a shift from the Touch ID fingerprint scanner to Face ID. But that remains years away.
Mark Gurman, Bloomberg
Face ID is handy for the best iPads since it saves you from putting in your passcode or using Touch ID. Things are a bit different on MacBooks, since your hands are already on the keyboard, and it’s easy to use the Touch ID functionality.
That begs the question: would Apple ditch Touch ID for Face ID, or would Macs feature both? It’s hard to tell at this time. I hope Touch ID for MacBooks remains, since it's a feature I always use. Face ID might be useful, but if it never comes to Macs, it wouldn't bother me. That said, iMac users might welcome Face ID.
As always, take this latest rumor with a healthy dose of skepticism. Hopefully, we’ll eventually get official word from Apple regarding Face ID on Macs. If and when that happens, we’ll be the first to let you know, so stay tuned for updates!
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