iPhone Duo reviewers cite intentional Touch ID delay as a usability drawback
Early reviews of the iPhone Duo highlight a deliberate pause in the Touch ID unlock process, which many users find slower than the instant Face ID on previous models. Apple explains the delay allows time to view notifications and aligns with other devices. While some reviewers call it frustrating, others note it is a design choice rather than a hardware flaw, marking a significant shift in user experience for the new device.
Key points
- Apple's new iPhone Duo replaces Face ID with a side-button Touch ID sensor, a change that has drawn criticism from multiple media reviewers for its perceived slowness.
- Marques Brownlee noted that Apple added an intentional delay to every unlock, requiring users to keep their finger on the side button to proceed from the lock screen to the home screen.
- Apple told Engadget that the pause creates a consistent experience across its ecosystem, including Macs and iPads, and allows the phone time to wake up and display notifications.
- Engadget described the unlock process as taking longer than expected, while Joanna Stern's review also noted the difference in speed compared to previous iPhone models.
- Brownlee suggested a workaround involving waking the phone and swiping up before touching the sensor, but acknowledged that Face ID remains the primary feature users will miss.
- The design decision prioritizes notification visibility and cross-device consistency over the instant unlock speed that characterized previous iPhone generations.
Media reviews of the iPhone Duo, released on Wednesday, have focused on the usability of its new Touch ID system. Multiple reviewers, including Marques Brownlee and Joanna Stern, noted that the fingerprint sensor feels slower than the Face ID technology used on previous iPhone models. Brownlee specifically identified an intentional delay in the unlock process, where the device pauses on the lock screen after the initial touch. This pause requires the user to keep their finger on the side button to proceed to the home screen, a feature Apple designed to allow users to view notifications before fully unlocking the device.
Apple explained to Engadget that this delay is intended to create a more consistent user experience across its product lineup, aligning the iPhone Duo with Macs and iPads that also use Touch ID. The company stated that the pause gives the phone sufficient time to wake up and display lock screen notifications. However, for users accustomed to the instant unlock of Face ID, the added step has been described as jarring and frustrating. Engadget noted that the process takes "a bit longer to unlock than you might expect," a sentiment echoed by other tech publications.
Despite the criticism, some reviewers view the delay as a logical design choice rather than a hardware limitation. Brownlee found a workaround by waking the phone and swiping up before touching the sensor, which allows for an instant unlock. Nevertheless, he concluded that Face ID is likely to be the most missed feature for users transitioning from older iPhones. The reaction highlights a significant shift in Apple's approach to biometric security, prioritizing ecosystem consistency and notification visibility over raw speed.
Sources
The WireByte editorial team synthesises technology news from multiple primary sources, verifies the facts, and links every source. Articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial policy.
