Apple could be bringing back Touch ID according to industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. 9to5Mac reports that the technology will be included alongside Face ID in future iPhones and that the two security measures will work in tandem to provide a unified security experience.
In-display fingerprint scanners are not new – Samsung, Huawei, Nokia, and others use it in their flagship and mid-range handsets – but they’ve not been as accurate as traditional capacitive scanners have been. Samsung uses both ultrasonic (in the S10 and S10+) as well as optical (in the Galaxy A series) to varying degrees of success but both technologies are costly and are not as consistent as they should be.
Apple currently holds a patent for an interactive display with IR diodes, however, the company is known for waiting until new technology has reached maturity before implementing it in its products. Kuo suggests that the biometric technology could be a better fit for the Apple Watch, however, he doesn’t confirm that that is part of Apple’s plans. Replacing the PIN code security setup on the Apple Watch would be a smart move for the company who prides itself on mobile device security.
A unified Face ID and Touch ID security system is exciting (or terrifying depending on how you look at it) as it could mean that anyone trying to access your device would have to replicate your face and your fingerprints, but as with all rumours, take this one with a pinch of salt. There are many things that could happen between now and 2021 which could cause Apple to delay or trash the implementation of an in-display Touch ID.
