Apple iPhone X owner finds her co-worker able to unlock her original and replacement units

by Alan Friedman / Dec 15, 2017, 11:20 AM

Apple iPhone X owner in China has had to return two units since both allowed a co-worker to unlock the phones

Usually the first question that many people ask when they come across someone wielding the Apple iPhone X is "How is Face ID working for you?" Despite the edge-to-edge screen and the very thin bezels, it seems that Face ID might be the most interesting feature of the tenth anniversary model. Well, if you ask that question to a woman in China, identified in a published report only by her surname "Yan," the question about Face ID would probably elicit a negative response.

Yan purchased the iPhone X and setup the facial recognition system only to find that one particular co-worker was able to open her phone every single time. Yan then called Apple support where her story was met with disbelief. So, she grabbed the phone and her colleague and drove to the closest Apple Store where she had her co-worker demonstrate how she can unlock the handset, even though her face wasn't used in the configuration of Face ID.

After proving that her Apple iPhone X wasn't working properly, the conclusion of the staff at the Genius Bar was that the TrueDepth Camera was malfunctioning. So she was given a refund which she promptly used to buy another iPhone X. But this second unit also allowed Yan's co-worker to unlock the phone. The Apple Store offered her a second refund. It is unclear whether she used it to buy a third iPhone X.

You might recall that there were several stories about Apple having problems with the production of the TrueDepth Camera and perhaps some of these issues have come home to roost. For what it's worth, an iPhone X purchased by PhoneArena is also experiencing problems with Face ID.

source: SCMP

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107 Comments

1. p51d007

Posts: 704; Member since: Nov 24, 2013

Not surprising. In some places, twins, coworkers could share enough facial features to allow the unlock, but, aren't fingerprints unique?

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 11:22 AM 42

3. Nopers unregistered

Sort of, but the resolution limitations lower it to 1 in 50,000

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 11:24 AM 2

20. daniyal_05

Posts: 93; Member since: Nov 15, 2017

No wonder more and more ppl are refraining from buying iphonex

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 12:03 PM 12

23. makatijules

Posts: 835; Member since: Dec 11, 2017

Those numbers don't matter. No one, not even a twin will have your prints without plastic surgery. Which means 0:7Billion people will not be able to unlock your phone.

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 12:22 PM 18

32. rf1975

Posts: 264; Member since: Aug 01, 2011

It did matter. Apple is loosing their reputation among their loyal customers. They had a good name and good QA since they introduce first iPhone. They never wanted to introduce any gimmick technology or any useful technology before it become mature enough. Now the new apple under Tim cook is not the same Apple under Steve. I can see them marching on the same path as other OEM "Quantity is always better than Quality".

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 12:50 PM 23

44. makatijules

Posts: 835; Member since: Dec 11, 2017

First off the feature is not gimmicky. It is useful. This has nothing to do with Tim Cook. It is simply apple who rushed to use half-baked technology that wasn't ready for prime-time. Face ID is just a facial version of Touch ID. The problem with a face is a face is generic. Too many people look like, while Iris and Fingers are far more unique. Is it Apple's fault? Indirectly yes. Because they tried to rush to be first so they can brag, and didn't properly test the technology. They just looked for something they could hype and get people to pay $1000 for a phone. This is why PA posted an article where, some guys said; don't use Face ID for things like Apple Pay because it is not secure enough. Basically someone who looks like you could grab your phone, unlock it with their face and empty your bank account. It is a serious flaw and Apple should block Face ID until they fix whatever it needs.

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 2:25 PM 2

101. BubbaJones

Posts: 1; Member since: Dec 16, 2017

rf1975: loosing is not a word in the English language. It is losing as in lost, loss, and lose. Loose is something not tight.

posted on Dec 16, 2017, 4:24 PM 0

78. andhraking17

Posts: 56; Member since: Jul 06, 2013

Yes your twin will not have same fingerprints as you, but that doesn't mean other's can't have same as you. Fingerprints were never unique, they were rare.

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 10:50 PM 0

84. cmdacos

Posts: 4112; Member since: Nov 01, 2016

Still more secure than this hack face id solution

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 11:27 PM 1

35. buccob

Posts: 2963; Member since: Jun 19, 2012

the advantage is that if you notice that your phone is being unlocked by someone else's fingerprint, you can change the one enrolled for another one of your fingers instead.... With Face ID you can't

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 12:54 PM 8

45. makatijules

Posts: 835; Member since: Dec 11, 2017

Except that will never ever happen because no one will ever have your fingerprint.

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 2:26 PM 0

73. cncrim

Posts: 1586; Member since: Aug 15, 2011

No it is a typo error Apple make 1 in 10,000 not 1 in 1,000,000

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 7:50 PM 0

9. treypoundz

Posts: 65; Member since: Sep 05, 2017

FP is always going to be better. U have to do more to get someones finger print then do all the xtra stuff. Where as face ID all u have to do is look at the damn screen. If u turn off attention anyone can pick up ur phone put it to ur face a bam

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 11:41 AM 9

21. sgodsell

Posts: 7219; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

Gives Creedence to the expression "They all look the same.". ;-)

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 12:07 PM 6

65. dimas

Posts: 3347; Member since: Jul 22, 2014

How dare you! Face id works for phil schilling and jon ive. First gen face id for apple need to do some working. Looking forward to s9's in-screen fingerprint scanner.

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 6:59 PM 0

41. Techlover2018

Posts: 80; Member since: Jul 14, 2017

Maybe it's designed for Americans faces.

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 1:14 PM 13

98. Furbal unregistered

It pretty much was(western anyway). It has difficulty seeing eastern Asians eyes as open.

posted on Dec 16, 2017, 1:09 PM 0

86. GreenMan

Posts: 2697; Member since: Nov 09, 2015

This sound awfully racist and yet it's true... We ought to stick with old fashioned yet highly reliable biometrics for now.

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 11:33 PM 1

2. Sammy_DEVIL737

Posts: 1529; Member since: Nov 28, 2016

She is unlocking that wrong.

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 11:22 AM 29

4. MattPerkins1

Posts: 94; Member since: Mar 25, 2017

I believe it is possible it could've been some bugs or a faulty camera or 2 people who look similar. But the most logical explanation is the owner removed her facial ID profile and replaced it with the friend's facial profile. As with anything that allows you to remove, replace or add another person... This trick would work since it wouldn't have been glitch as it's main intent is to let you re-add your facial profile if the first time it didn't register it as well as you liked the first time. One thing that is a fact. Android companies wouldn't have offered a refund. I've actually been in stores and the person tell the customer you knew what you were getting into when you chose Android.

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 11:26 AM 4

6. Peacetoall unregistered

Oh the damage control

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 11:33 AM 44

7. PopeFrancis

Posts: 110; Member since: Aug 05, 2014

Yeah, man. The most logical explanation is Apple sucks.

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 11:35 AM 32

8. submar

Posts: 713; Member since: Sep 19, 2014

"Hohoho" -Craig Federighi 2017

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 11:38 AM 14

70. worldpeace

Posts: 3129; Member since: Apr 15, 2016

Soon, Apple will sue all movie about Santa Claus, and all Santa Clause clones at public spaces, if they use that word.. /s

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 7:32 PM 4

10. Sammy_DEVIL737

Posts: 1529; Member since: Nov 28, 2016

"Android companies wouldn't have offered a refund". Oh boy, lol just look at every other customer who owned Note 7. •Got refund/trade-in for S7. •Got 128 GB SD card for free. •Got discount on Note 8. Would you please care to elaborate why Android Companies wouldn't give refund to their customers?

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 11:41 AM 29

38. Finalflash

Posts: 4063; Member since: Jul 23, 2013

Well he is right, that isn't a refund....that's a hookup. Apple blames it's customers before issuing rubber bands or refunds.

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 1:12 PM 4

102. deleon629

Posts: 451; Member since: Oct 04, 2014

A huge discount for those trade-ins, by the way. Let's also consider all the customers who got free gift cards or fast wireless (emphasis on the wireless part since, because...Apple...) chargers, just for sticking with their phones when the Note 7 broke...Even though they didn't have a Note 7 lol I got the 256gb microSD card and an apology in the mail and I'd only had a s7 Edge. $100 bucks in Best Buy store credit for upgrading to the s8+ Apple wouldn't give you the gum from their shoes...

posted on Dec 16, 2017, 6:23 PM 3

13. g2a5b0e unregistered

The only thing that's fact here is that you clearly have no idea what you're talking about.

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 11:50 AM 11

33. Awalker

Posts: 1973; Member since: Aug 15, 2013

In his mind Apple is akin to perfection so there must be something nefarious going on.

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 12:52 PM 2

14. RebelwithoutaClue unregistered

The logical explanation is that FaceID isn't as good as Apple claims it to be. And one thing that is a fact? Your opinion isn't an actual fact since you are talking about personal (fictional) experience. Apart from the fact that I don't believe you have been in multiple stores where the salesperson would say this, you can't claim Android companies wouldn't do a refund based on a few experiences that you had. Just because a random store person supposedly has been a dick, ALL android companies would refuse a refund. Sure kiddo.

posted on Dec 15, 2017, 11:52 AM 15

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