iPhones may now be unlocked in landscape orientation with iOS 16.
The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in 2022 was packed with key new features and functions. Macbook Air 2022 and 13-inch MacBook Pro 2022 were also announced during the keynote. iOS 16 and macOS Ventura were also shown off throughout the event. Face ID will operate in landscape on iOS 16 but wasn’t mentioned during the event.
iPhone users, who spend a lot of time watching Netflix or Disney Plus or playing their favourite games with their phone tilted sideways, would really benefit from this function. Face ID users on iOS 16 may now unlock their phone and make payments while holding their iPhone in landscape mode thanks to this Face ID update. Face ID requires your iPhone to be held vertically in order to work on iOS 15, which can be inconvenient if you’re using it with a game controller like the Xbox Wireless Controller.
There’s always the tiniest hiccup. It’s stated on Apple’s iOS 16 preview page that this Face ID upgrade is only compatible with supported iPhone models. It’s unfortunate, because that’s a deliberately ambiguous description. This means that any iPhone with the Face ID sensors in the controversial display notch will be able to use Face ID in landscape mode. (The iPhone 8 and subsequent models will be able to run iOS 16.) However, there may be other issues that prohibit some models from taking advantage of this feature that we are unaware of.
As long as you have an iPhone, this tiny convenience should be welcomed by those who play on the go. Gamers can now take their gaming on the road with the Razer Kishi controller and other cutting-edge mobile controllers. For those who like to play games in landscape mode, Apple is reportedly working on a gaming controller of its own.
The advantages are not just for mobile players, however. In iOS 16, Apple is adding a new feature to its Maps app that will allow users to replenish their transit cards right from the app. Face ID is likely required for this functionality, but users won’t have to rotate their Maps in order to use it now that it can be used while Maps are open in landscape.