Apple’s redesigned iMacs may not get FaceID unlock, feature gets pushed back

Apple has been long rumoured to be working on a redesigned version of its iMac. This redesign is said to be biggest overhaul in terms of looks, ever since the iMac line introduced in 2012. But according to a latest report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple's Face ID recognition software, which was originally said to be coming in this year’s iMac redesign, is now pushed to the second iteration of the redesign.

The report also mentions that “Apple has also developed underlying Mac support for both cellular connectivity — the ability for Macs to connect to the internet via smartphone networks — and Face ID, the company's facial recognition system. But neither feature appears to be coming soon. To that end, Face ID had originally been planned to arrive in this year's ‌iMac‌ redesign, but it's now unlikely to be included in the first iteration of the new design.”

Also read: Security researchers have ported Ubuntu Linux for Apple Silicon M1 hardware

It is worth mentioning that Apple's face ID feature is limited to iPhones and iPads for now. However, codes found in macOS Big Sur beta suggest that it might also arrive to iMac at some point. 

Bloomberg has previously reported that the redesigned iMac models will come with slimmer bezels around the display and no metal chin. The device is also said to look similar to the Pro Display XDR monitor that Apple launched in 2019. 

Also mentioned is that these new iMacs might come with a flat back and might be in sync with the iPad Pro design language. It is worth mentioning that the iPhone 12 series also have a similar block-like design profile. 

According to preliminary reports, at least one of the iMac models will replace the 21.5-inch and 27-inch models. It is likely to feature a 23 or 24-inch screen. However, it's not for sure what the size of the second iMac will be.

The new 23 or 24-inch iMac is said to be the same size as the current 21.5-inch iMac. However, due to slimmer bezels it might have a larger screen. It is also safe to assume that these will be powered by Apple’s own Silicon.