Apple previously clarified its Touch ID fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5s is far from perfect and would only work in optimal conditions, such as clean fingers free from sweat, moisture, lotion or other liquids.
To demonstrate the conditions where Touch ID would fail, Repair Labs has put the sensor through various tests to see whether it would function or not. Check out their video below:
Their tests resulted in the following results where Touch ID would or would not work under various scenarios:
-Clean Finger Print – Yes
-Greasy Finger Print –No
-Oily Test – Yes
-Water Test – No
-Clear Latex Glove – Yes, although it took a few tries.
-Colored Latex Glove – No
-Dirt Test – No
Paint Test – No
Flour Test – Yes
Personally we never use our iPhones when our hands are dirty or grossed out (like after eating BBQ ribs), but it’s interesting to see what will and will not work with Touch ID in this impromptu test.
Check out how Touch ID is setup in our video below as explained by our video guru Kris Meador:
How’s your experience so far with Touch ID?
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I’m finding it very reliable. Rarely do I have to scan more than once. Just after getting out of the shower (must have had wrinkly fingers) and with a bit of food grease on my finger. It’s surprisingly fast too. Just as quick as sliding to unlock without a passcode and way faster than typing a passcode! Not having to type my iTunes password anymore was worth the upgrade by itself!
Gold… so douchy
Gold is best!
The most concerning thing in this video (that for some reason wasn’t mentioned in the article) is that it didn’t work in the freezer. Or shortly afterwards either (2 minutes before it worked again). That may be an issue for us Canadians in the coming months. I guess time will tell…
The iPhone 5s should be less expensive then if we can only use it at 100% when it’s not cold outside cause it’s a serious problem here in Canada 😛
haha I’m totally going to touch my $1000 iPhone when I have car grease or oil on my fingers. I’m impressed it worked with a latex glove to be honest. Cold test was the only one that interested me, the rest were kind of ridiculous.
Yep. Surprised we didn’t see a fried chicken grease test!
That wasn’t latex glove, it was i think the cheap pvc, and the other was nitrile. Nitrile while can work on the screen is pretty thick. besides if its not going to leave fingerprints behind how is the reader suppose to see it.