Windows Hello uses facial recognition to unlock PCs, and Apple may finally be catching up. At least it will if new code in the latest macOS Big Sur beta is true.

9to5Mac broke the news a while back with an article about finding code that references support for something called "PearlCamera." This is the internal code name for Apple's TrueDepth camera and Face ID technology.

In addition, the site found references to "FaceDetect" and "BioCapture" code in macOS, "confirming that Apple is preparing macOS to work with Face ID."

But don't expect a MacBook with Face ID to be released this fall for sure; the move to Apple Silicon/ARM-based Macs will give Apple a chance to revamp the industrial design of its laptops, but most laptop top displays (especially MacBook Air and Pro) are not as thick as the iPhone or iPad Pro, it may be difficult for Apple to add sensors to laptops.

Instead, remember that the iMac is also expected to be updated with an Apple Silicon/ARM chip this fall. That desktop all-in-one is much larger and thicker, making it a natural fit for Face ID. And since the iMac is also likely to have the Neural Engine component, a requirement for Face ID, it seems unlikely that it will not unlock when the owner sits in front of an iMac running on an Apple chip. For now, such convenience requires the Apple Watch proximity unlock trick, but not everyone has an Apple Watch.

9to5Mac gives reasons not to bet on Face ID appearing this year, saying, "Since implementation is still in the early stages, it may be some time before Apple announces a new Mac model with a TrueDepth camera that supports Face ID."

Furthermore, once the Apple Silicon is launched, iOS and iPadOS apps will run on macOS, so Face ID will allow those programs, especially my password manager, 1Password, and any ARKit app It makes perfect sense in allowing them to operate the same way they do on the iPhone and iPad.