For years, Apple has been at the forefront of accessible design. Arguably, the iPhone still may be the best device for people who need accessibility settings to complete their experience. However, that’s been changing. Android has been playing catch-up, and has gotten close to Apple.
Today, Apple unveiled the iPhone 16e. With it, they dropped Touch ID from the iPhone lineup, likely a disappointment for many who rely on the touch-based biometric solution over Apple’s vision-dependent Face ID. For people with low to no vision or those little control over their eyes or people who need to wear a mask frequently, Face ID can be anything from a frustration to a security risk. It may even be impossible to use for some people. Apple took a useful tool they had for disabled users away, and they don’t seem to be trying to bring it back. Not even Android manufacturers are doing this.
Why is Apple taking a step backwards on accessibility?
Face ID Requires Attention
If, during setup, you tell your iPhone to use VoiceOver, it’ll automatically turn off an important feature of Face ID: “Require Attention.” You can also toggle this later in Settings > Accessibility > Face ID & Attention > Require Attention for Face ID. If you’re unable to see your phone, you may also want to turn off the next item on this screen, “Attention Aware Features,” which keep your device active when you’re looking at it.
Turning off this feature is vital if you are unable to open your eyes, look at your phone, and specifically look at the top and bottom of your phone sometimes when Face ID asks you to look down. Otherwise, Face ID will rarely work for you. But what does “require attention” do? It’s the single feature that makes Face ID secure enough to replace Touch ID for most users. With it, your phone can’t easily be unlocked while you’re asleep or otherwise not using it. Turning this feature off may make Face ID less secure than Touch ID.
Many blind users can still work out how to make Face ID believe they’re looking at the device, and keep “require attention” turned on. Though some claim it doesn’t work for them. Others point out that they still prefer Touch ID, and can you blame them?
Options Matter
The Motorola Razr has both facial recognition and a fingerprint reader in the lock button.
Asking blind users to accept worse security or more difficulty while they’re using their devices so Apple can save some money is unconscionable. When you factor in that nearly every other major smartphone manufacturer has solved this issue by featuring both a fingerprint reader and facial recognition, Apple’s determination to sacrifice the experience of people with vision impairments for profit is even worse. People need options not just for preference, but because they may not be able to easily use their device without those options.
With the end of the iPhone SE line, there’s no iPhone that blind users can unlock and access as easily as sighted users. They deserve the same options as anyone else. Not putting Touch ID in the iPhone is a conscious decision that Apple made to make their devices worse for people with vision issues solely for the sake of profit. Nearly every Android manufacturer has done what Apple refuses to do. That isn’t right.
Also the damn thing doesn’t even have MagSafe. Android phones have MagSafe now. Come on, Apple! How expensive are magnets, really? For $600, you’d think they’d have more magnets in this thing than I’ve got on my fridge.