While Apple has been testing under-screen Touch ID sensor technology recently, the company has decided not to include the technology in its upcoming iPhone 13 lineup. This means Face ID will continue to be the only biometric method of authentication in its top-of-the-line iPhones.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports in his latest Power On newsletter that the Cupertino firm has been testing under-screen Touch ID, which would have allowed users to unlock their devices by placing a finger on the screen to authenticate. However, Gurman says the under-screen sensor won’t make it on this year’s iPhones. He says Apple’s eventual goal is to embed Face ID under the display rather than Touch ID.
Currently, only one iPhone – the iPhone SE – uses Touch ID. The latest-generation iPad Air boasts Touch ID, embedded into the power button. Apple could bring that technology to low-end iPhones in the future.
While Gurman didn’t mention why Apple decided to scrap its initial plan to include Touch ID with the iPhone 13, although it may have been due to the technology’s not being reliable or mature enough to make it a feature on its top of the line iPhones.