While the full release won’t be out for now, Apple just released the first iOS 14.5 developer beta today, and one change may be more useful than the rest right away. Once installed, the update allows users to unlock their iPhones via Face ID, even when wearing a mask.
Unfortunately, there is one important caveat: the feature will only work if the iPhone owner is also wearing an Apple Watch. As long as the Watch itself is already unlocked, all you need to do is look at your iPhone as usual; after that you’ll get a haptic buzz around your wrist to let you know that the unlock was successful. As we understand it, the feature – which has to be enabled manually before use – allows Face ID to continue unlocking despite much lower facial recognition accuracy because the nearby watch has already been verified. You can also lock your phone from your Apple Watch, although it’s worth noting that any other actions that may rely on facial unlocking, such as approving an App Store purchase, cannot be done this way are handled.