Face ID for iPhone will function in a landscape in iOS 16

Key takeaways: 

• Face ID on iPad has helped landscape mode for years.
• Apple says the feature is available only on “supported iPhone versions,” but it doesn’t explicitly say which ones.

Many thrilling announcements came out of WWDC, but one update Apple didn’t say onstage is that iOS 16 will bring approval for using Face ID in landscape mode.

As stated on Apple’s iOS 16 preview page, Apple says you’ll soon be able to open your iPhone, make payments, autofill your passwords, and more with Face ID when your phone is slanted horizontally. You can already use Face ID when your iPad is in a landscape manner, so extending the feature to iPhones is outstanding. When the quality is out, you’ll no longer have to assure your phone is in a portrait position to use Face ID, which can be somewhat of a problem if you often have your phone turned to the side.

Apple says the feature is available only on “supported iPhone models,” but it doesn’t explicitly cite which ones. The Verge came out to Apple with a plea for comment but didn’t instantly hear back. 

This is just one of the multiple features set to come with iOS 16 this fall, including customizable lock screens, the capability to edit iMessages, and updated notifications.