This nifty iPhone trick is AWESOME- just what the doctor ordered

This new iPhone trick will let you unlock your phone without putting yourself at risk

Signage advertising Apple iPhone 13 in San Francisco, California, U.S. (Bloomberg)

Apple's next iPhone update will finally address a grumble that's been bugging users since the Covid-19 pandemic started: You'll finally be able to unlock your phone without first taking off your mask. The updated iPhone Face ID feature is expected to work, not just on iPhones, but also on iPads. This nifty iPhone trick is likely to be included in iOS 15.4, which is expected to be released sometime in the first half of March.

The new software is also expected to debut Universal Control, which lets customers use a single keyboard and trackpad across multiple iPads and Macs. 

Apple's 3-D facial recognition system was launched back in 2017, as a feature of the new iPhone X. But it became a headache as Covid-19 swept around the world in 2020, as mask wearers were forced to remove their coverings to unlock their iPhones. A temporary solution for some came last year, when a software update allowed Apple Watch users to access their iPhones even when wearing a mask or sunglasses.

Also on the cards for early March is the unveiling of a new low-cost iPhone, probably named iPhone SE 3, and an updated iPad, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

That's likely to be followed up later in the year by a raft of releases including new iMac and Mac Pro desktops, a redesigned MacBook Air, an updated low-end MacBook Pro, three Apple Watches, the iPhone 14 and new AirPods.