Alternatively we are being asked:
- I noticed that the lock/unlock feature is missing from the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 Series.
- Does iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 have the ability to sleep on close and wake on open with a suitable case or wallet, like the iPhone X did?
- Why doesn't your folio case auto-lock my iPhone 12 / iPhone 13 / iPhone 14 / iPhone 15?
This is a common question at the moment. The short answer is, Apple didn’t include the "hall sensor" in any iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 devices - so no accessory will auto wake or lock an iPhone 12, 13, 14 or 15.
As the manufacturers of luxury leather iPhone accessories, we feel it is incumbent upon us to explain functionality quirks of the latest iPhone series which seems to be causing a lot of anxiety and confusion on internet forums.
What is lock / unlock?
Apple first introduced an auto lock / unlock function on iPad and then with the iPhone X. The iPhone X was the first mobile phone to have an auto wake / sleep sensor which was triggered by compatible folio cases. The full range of TORRO luxury leather folios incorporated this feature into the design.
Following this, the following handsets also had the sensor:
- iPhone X / XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
Please note that the standard iPhone 11 does not have the function. The one commonality that all of these devices share is that Apple made an Apple folio cover for the devices which do have the sensor which makes sense as it was an official accessory.
Apple do not make an official folio for any iPhone 12/13/14/15 which makes sense that they would not include a sensor to facilitate a function that they do not utilise themselves.
How does lock / auto lock work?
Auto lock is triggered by a series of sensors which respond to an opposing magnetic contact. The screen of the iPhone is required to possess two magnetic sensors. When the screen senses that both sensors have magnetic contact it will tell iOS to put the device to sleep, when the magnetic contact is then lifted, the software knows to wake the device.
There are no auto-lock sensors in the iPhone 15, iPhone 14, iPhone 13 or iPhone 12 Series therefore this function is impossible.
Why will my iPhone Pro Series not auto-lock?
A logical reason as to why Apple have not included the relevant sensors in the iPhone Pro series is that they already have a raise to wake function. If you raise the device it auto-wakes and then Face-ID will unlock the device ready for use. When you have finished using the device it will auto sleep within 15 seconds of inactivity so Apple may have rendered the function superfluous.
Another reason could be the introduction of MagSafe. As hall sensors are triggered by magnetic contact, the introduction of a ring of Magnets in the body of the iPhone could have caused the lock / unlock to behave temperamentally.
In any event, the answer to the common questions of:
- Does iPhone 12/13/14/15 Pro have wake sleep?
- Why doesn’t my iPhone 12/13/14/15 auto lock with a folio case?
- How to turn on wake / sleep on iPhone 12/13/14/15?
The unfortunate answer is that Apple have not included this feature and no iPhone from Series 12 onwards will auto-lock.
Technical Specifications
TORRO design all cases based on the Apple published schematics. For the more technically minded, please see the below comparison of iPhone 11 Pro Max vs iPhone 12 Pro Max.
You are looking for two black dots on the iPhone 11 Pro design spec referred to as "HES", these are the locations of the two hall sensors which are required to trigger lock / unlock. Note that they are not included in the iPhone 12 Pro Max design spec and that the majority of the area is marked as a magnetic contact free zone other than MagSafe.
Click to see larger version
Click to see larger version
