Touch ID and Face ID coming to next year's iPhones, new rumors suggest

84% reliable

3 mins

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"According to my sources, there are currently two working prototypes with Touch ID under the display panel." - Jon Prosser
This move may not be a 'backtrack' so much as it is a necessary change during the current pandemic.
Reliable leaker Ming-Chi Kuo (reliability: 80.95%) has said the same.
Apple has recently included Touch ID in the top button of its iPad Air, released earlier this year in October.

When Apple unveiled their much anticipated iPhone X in 2017, many in the industry took it as a signal that Apple had abandoned its Touch ID technology in favor of Face ID. At the time, Apple highlighted the benefits of facial recognition as a more secure method for locking and unlocking your smartphone. However, things may be set to change next year.

According to my sources, there are currently two working prototypes with Touch ID under the display panel.

The latest leak comes from Jon Prosser (reliability: 88.46%) of Front Page Tech. According to him and his sources, there are allegedly two working iPhone 13 prototypes that support both Touch ID and Face ID. Specifically, Prosser noted that the prototypes are said to utilize under-display Touch ID, meaning you'll press your fingerprint to the touch screen – this is necessary, due to the removal of the Home Button after the iPhone X launch. As Prosser points out, this move may not be a 'backtrack' so much as it is a necessary change during the current pandemic (and even possibly others in the future). Wearing a face mask disrupts the experience of Face ID, as it can't properly recognize your features. Therefore, it makes sense for Apple to create an alternative.

At the same time, reliable leaker Ming-Chi Kuo (reliability: 80.95%) has said the same, although not with the same degree of detail. Kuo noted earlier in 2020 that Apple plans to incorporate Touch ID into a future iPhone, although he did not mention at the time where the sensor would be placed.

Apple has recently included Touch ID in the top button of its iPad Air, released earlier this year in October. The popular response to this inclusion further highlights how there is definitely a market for bringing back Touch ID next year. As Prosser rightly notes, the existence of prototypes does not indicate that Apple will definitely include the feature in the new iPhone, but that the company is at least considering it. More iPhone 13 rumors here.

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Published to Apple Scoop on 17th December, 2020.

Flynn Lo Faro

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Flynn has been covering technology for over a decade, with a deep focus on all things Apple. As the Editor-in-Chief of Apple Scoop, Flynn ensures the team delivers the most accurate and up-to-date information on Apple news, rumors, and product releases. His passion for tech journalism and editorial expertise guide the site’s vision and maintain its high standards.

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