Face ID Appears to Fail at Telling Apart Brothers Who Aren't Twins in New Videos [Updated]

September 25, 2014

iphone x in hands of thousands of customers around world, many adopters putting face id test see if apple's facial authentication system secure advertises.

apple says probability random person in population @ else's iphone x , unlock using face id approximately 1 in 1,000,000, compared 1 in 50,000 touch id, notes probability of false match different twins , siblings you.

we've seen face id can fooled identical twins, , video shared on reddit appears confirm face id can fail distinguish between siblings aren't twins have similar appearances.

iphonex face id fail? iphone

in video, sibling set face id on iphone x able unlock device face expected. next, handed iphone brother. face id didn't authenticate brother's face upon first attempt, once put on pair of black rim glasses, face able unlock iphone x.

apple has been very transparent face id can less reliable in these situations, video doesn't come across pr disaster in making company. but, visualize face id isn't 100 percent failproof.

concerned security of iphone x in these cases, apple's recommendation use traditional passcode instead of face id authentication. unfortunately, @ least time being, means disabling 1 of key new features of smartphone costs @ least $1,000.

update: similar video has surfaced of 2 half-brothers unlocking same iphone x face id. younger brother supposedly 14 years old.

not siblings similar, apple said probability of false match different among children under age of 13, because distinct facial features may not have developed. perhaps 14-year-old brother falls within category, if older.

update 2: in follow-up video, original brothers posted on reddit reveal face id failed authenticate second brother, after inputting passcode several times after failed attempts, began authenticate face. brothers' faces close enough in appearance face id worked intended "learning" should recognize both brothers same person.

article link: face id appears fail @ telling apart brothers aren't twins in new videos [updated]