Face ID has been part of the iPhone for close to a decade, and the iPad for nearly as long—but the Mac still uses Touch ID. A new rumor could offer hope of that potentially changing though.

Apple developing ultra-thin Face ID components that might be perfect for the Mac

Leaker Instant Digital posted on Weibo over the weekend with an interesting new detail about the iPhone Air 2 that may be pertinent to future Macs too.

After saying that the new iPhone Air will add a second rear camera—an Ultra Wide that’s horizontally aligned—he mentioned a key Face ID change.

Here’s what he wrote, as translated by Google Translate:

  ●The iPhone Air (2) will feature an ultra-wide-angle lens, positioned horizontally. To address internal space constraints, Apple is reportedly customizing an ultra-thin Face ID component from its suppliers.

  ●Editor’s note: I speculate that the MacBook will also likely use this ultra-thin Face ID component.

Instant Digital makes clear that the MacBook possibility is only speculation. But it does make a lot of sense.

For years, it’s been assumed that the Mac’s lack of Face ID is largely due to space constraints in the typical MacBook’s lid.

But if Apple is already creating a new, ultra-thin Face ID component for the iPhone Air, it could be a natural fit for future MacBooks and possibly the iMac too.

The MacBook Pro is expected to get a major redesign later this year. Perhaps Apple will surprise us and add Face ID among all the other rumored changes.

However, more likely we’ll have to wait until a future model to get the first Mac with Face ID. Assuming, of course, that Apple does some day bring the feature to the Mac.

Source: 9to5mac