Macworld - USA (2021-03)

March 2021 • Macworld 13

iMac, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air

could be on the way this year, they

will likely stick to the same standard

set of features, possibly with new

designs. Bloomberg reports that

while Apple is indeed working on 5G

cellular connectivity and Face ID for

the Mac, it’s not part of the next round

of 2021 releases.

Specifically, the report targets the

iMac as the first model to get Face

ID for unlocking and authentication,

but Bloomberg says the feature,

which “had originally been planned to

arrive in this year’s iMac redesign”, is

now “unlikely” to be included in the

model releasing later this year. The

iMac is one of the few devices Apple

makes that doesn’t use biometrics for

secure authentication.

Face ID has long been on our

Mac wish list, with Microsoft having

already integrated the feature in

Windows 10 with Windows Hello. Face

ID debuted with the iPhone X in 2017

and has since made its way to the

iPad Pro, but Apple has yet to expand

the technology to any other products.

The addition of cellular

connectivity is another long-awaited

feature that Apple has yet to deliver

to the Mac. After 5G arrived on the

iPhone in the autumn, there was hope

that Apple would quickly bring it the

Mac, but it appears as though it might

take a little longer.

March 2021 • Macworld 13

iMac,MacBookProandMacBookAir
couldbeonthewaythisyear,they
willlikelysticktothesamestandard
setoffeatures,possiblywithnew
designs.Bloombergreportsthat
whileAppleisindeedworkingon5G
cellularconnectivityandFaceIDfor
theMac,it’snotpartofthenextround
of 2021 releases.
Specifically,thereporttargetsthe
iMacasthefirstmodeltogetFace
IDforunlockingandauthentication,
butBloombergsaysthefeature,
which“hadoriginallybeenplannedto
arriveinthisyear’siMac redesign”, is
now “unlikely” to be included in the
model releasing later this year. The
iMac is one of the few devices Apple
makes that doesn’t use biometrics for
secure authentication.
Face ID has long been on our
Mac wish list, with Microsoft having
already integrated the feature in
Windows 10 with Windows Hello. Face
ID debuted with the iPhone X in 2017
and has since made its way to the
iPad Pro, but Apple has yet to expand
the technology to any other products.
The addition of cellular
connectivity is another long-awaited
feature that Apple has yet to deliver
to the Mac. After 5G arrived on the
iPhone in the autumn, there was hope
that Apple would quickly bring it the

Mac, but it appears as though it might

take a little longer.