Are you OK with using your face to unlock your iPhone?
Your passcode can be hacked, but your face is yours and yours alone. That’s the thinking behind Apple’s latest security measure, which is more high-tech and a bit more intimate than anything else on the market.
With Face ID, which Apple unveiled Tuesday, owners of the company’s new top-of-the-line iPhone X will be able to unlock their phone, pay for products and use mobile apps just by glancing at their device.
“Nothing has ever been simpler, more natural and effortless,” Phil Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide marketing, said during Apple’s first product launch at its new headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. “Face ID is the future of how we unlock our smartphones and protect our sensitive information.”
Though still a novel concept for many Americans, biometric technology — which includes face, fingerprint, iris and retina recognition identification systems — has been a hotbed of research this decade. With Apple’s backing, the field just got its most high-profile boost yet and could soon become the industry standard, even if many consumers aren’t quite comfortable with the concept.
IPhones will get the latest software updates, though. Many Android models will, too, although you may have to wait longer.
The iPhone 6S, released two years ago, now starts at $ 449. Last year’s iPhone 7 costs $100 more. Samsung’s Galaxy S7, launched in March 2016, costs $576.
Something old
Buying a refurbished model can be even cheaper than buying a new-butoutdated model, though it’s more risky, because it could come with problems.
It’s a big plus if your used phone has been updated with a new battery; those start to give out after about 18 months, said Matt Zieminski, an account manager with iFixit, which sells tools for repairing gadgets. Older batteries tend to run down quickly.
Zieminski also recommends taking into account which seller is going to offer the longest warranty.
Apple says refurbished phones include a new battery and outer shell, and have a one- year warranty. It sells a refurbished iPhone 6S for less than $400. Samsung’s website sells used phones with a one-year warranty as well. A Galaxy S6 is $ 349.
Carriers sell used phones too, typically with a 90- day warranty. So do Best Buy and Amazon; warranties vary.
You can also buy phones off people on Craigslist, or friends and family members, but those won’t likely come with a return policy, so buyer beware.
Cheaper androids
There are many Android cellphones, often from Asia, that cost substantially less than a new Galaxy or iPhone. Many won’t have an excellent camera — but depending on your photography skills, you might not even notice. Some won’t have the technology that lets you pay by phone at store registers.
One tech- blog favorite, the OnePlus 5, starts at $ 479, has an excellent camera and a long- lasting battery, but doesn’t work with Sprint or Verizon. Motorola’s Moto G is wellmade, budget- friendly at $230 and works with the major carriers — but in a review of a past model, the camera wasn’t as good as pricier phones. The Wirecutter reviews site has a write- up of the latest version of the Moto G and tips on the best cheap Android models.