Where are Touch ID Peripherals?
For what it’s worth, Apple hasn’t made it available for third-party developers or manufacturers to join in on the “security” aspect of Apple’s ecosystem. MFI programs, for example, are geared toward whitelisting accessories to keep the device secure. While the method may be effective, if Apple is hesitant on opening up proprietary systems such as Touch ID, it is nearly impossible, at least legally, to create and sell one such device.
In fact, we don’t even need to delve into the licensing aspects of Apple ecosystem; we only need to look at what the company has done with either the Touch ID or Face ID. While Touch ID accessories are connected via non-proprietary Bluetooth, we are yet to see a single peripherals from Apple that will complement other third-party keyboards as a simple authenticator. There are already successful attempts by DIY enthusiasts to cut out only the Touch ID scanner from the official keyboard. It boils down to Apple’s willingness to make one such device.
What confuses me further is that Apple hasn’t given up on professional desktop lines of Mac products. On laptops, one could theoretically make an argument that there is too little demand for external Touch ID as it is already included in the laptop. Whereas on the desktops, aside from iMac and Mac Mini, two products that are more affordable and positioned as mid to entry level, there are Mac Pro and Mac Studio —two Macs that easily go beyond $10k, if so configured. The official peripherals and accessories offered by Apple for these two pro lines are hardly affordable. But for professionals who have the budgets for what they need, the same people who are already buying these peripherals, I can’t imagine biometrics not being part of the needs.
As I have written previously on 1Password op-ed, biometrics authentication on iOS and macOS are so deeply rooted to the point where if a proposed alternative doesn’t use one effectively, it can royally screw up the workflow. In other words, for majority of the Touch ID users on macOS, and prospective Face ID users, —assuming it is in the work— giving up biometrics is not an option. A bit of tangent, as I’m jumping between Intel Mac Pro, which doesn’t support Touch ID, and M2 MacBook Air, I often find myself stumbling over authenticating as entering the master password by hand usually takes more time than simply laying a finger on a scanner, not to mention it resets my muscle memory every time.
As far as I’m aware, majority of Mac sales stem from laptop lines —the ones with Touch ID already embedded. Even for the desktops, majority of the users, including professionals, are rather satisfied with Apple’s Magic Keyboard. To state the obvious, mechanical keyboards or any keyboard-related hobbies are still niche markets. Many consumers don’t even consider buying a second or a better keyboard; they are happy with what were included in the box. But so is true of professional desktop market; the volume of sales is small, but each sales comes with generally bigger price tags. If there are pro-level consumers willing to spend 10 times the greater than of average consumers, and if Apple has been listening to them partially up until now, what stops the company from releasing yet another controversial (e.g. Mac Pro Wheels) product?
Having said all that, yet another possibility to consider is whether or not Touch ID will be replaced on the Mac side. There are already speculations of adding Face ID to the Mac, and possibility of fitting Face ID scanner in a laptop. None of the limitations matter for desktop lines, especially for Mac Pro and Mac Studio, where users would generally either bring their own monitor or use one of the Apple’s displays. Apple could potentially release a webcam-like Face ID scanner. Again, none of the speculations escape the realm of wild imaginations, but it warrants a thought that Apple hasn’t made significant improvement on biometrics since 2021.