Apple will launch an
iPhone equipped with both Face ID and an on-display fingerprint sensor in 2021, according to a new investor note by Apple analyst
Ming-Chi Kuo and obtained by MacRumors.
Kuo's prediction is based on Apple's patents related to fingerprint on display (FOD) and the continued use of the technology in Android smartphones, which together suggest to him that Apple will opt to bring fingerprint scanning back to its smartphone screens.
In terms of technology, we predict that four critical technical issues of FOD will significantly improve in 12–18 months, including module thickness, sensing area, power consumption, and lamination yield rate. Therefore, we believe that Apple will launch the new iPhone equipped with both Face ID and FOD to enhance security and convenience thanks to the multi-biometrics.
Apple has effaced fingerprint recognition entirely in its flagship smartphone lineup, which includes the
iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and LCD-based
iPhone XR. Chinese mobile vendors meanwhile have gone in the opposite direction and extended the adoption of in-display fingerprint sensing technology from their premium smartphones to mid-range models, where they've proved just as popular.
Apple was
widely rumored to be attempting to integrate
Touch ID under the display on 2017's iPhone X, but the company ditched any form of fingerprint scanning after hitting "early line of sight" with Face ID. However, Kuo argues that Face ID and FOD technologies are "complementary, not competitive," because multi-biometrics would offer authentication processes in circumstances where one or the other was inconvenient to use or simply unavailable.
Kuo believes that GIS and Qualcomm will benefit from iPhone's adoption of FOD, with the former providing the "large-area sensing ultrasonic" technology and the latter supplying the ultrasonic FOD module and lamination. Kuo also argues that the likelihood of FOD in iPhones will increase if
Apple Watch supports a biometric function in the future.
Last month, Chinese media sources
claimed Apple intends to launch a new iPhone for the budget-conscious Chinese market that features an under-display fingerprint sensor. However, those reports said the fingerprint scanning would replace rather than augment Face ID technology, which was deemed too expensive.
Barclays analysts also recently
claimed that 2020 model iPhones will have acoustic fingerprint technology that could allow for full-screen Touch ID, following meetings with suppliers in Apple's Asian supply chain.
Before these reports, the consensus was that Apple is done with Touch ID in smartphones, despite having explored various in-display fingerprint scanner solutions in the past, including
fingerprint sensing MicroLED displays. However, Touch ID has found a new lease of life on laptop keyboards, specifically in Apple's
MacBook Pro range and the
MacBook Air.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)Face ID was great in 2017,when under display touch ID technology wasn't available.
now it's available, and it's superior and much more ergonomic and convenient.
This isn't your grandpa's fingerprint tech. Today, ultrasonic fingerprint sensors can read the capillaries under the finger. The old myth about 1:50,000 odds no longer applies. Reading capillaries also means additional health features.
Imagine how boring and unexciting the iPhone 2019 is... all the rumours are for iPhone 2020 and 2021. Nice.
At this point the only excitement for 2019 will be if Apple regains its senses and lowers the price for the new iPhone to $699 for the top-end version and $499 for the entry-level.Perhaps. However, really, there isn't anything exciting about the 2019 iPhones based on what we know. An improved camera?
What’s really exciting about any new smartphone, at this point? We’re a dozen years in.I never understood all the people who say that Touch ID is better - have you ever tried to use touch id with wet hands or sweaty fingers? What's soooooooooo better about it, than Face ID?
I unlock my iPhone 8 at the gym just fine and use Apple Pay way more often than attempting to unlock my phone with wet hands. Do you live in Waterworld?
TouchID is just easier for certain use cases and doesn't require additional gestures or side button pressing.
Definitely got my vote in for the return of Touch ID. In fact, as much as some prefer Face ID over it, I suspect their sales have lagged not only because of exorbitant pricing, but also dislike of the Face ID technology.
Our entire office has migrated to XR as our work phone, and I can assure you, a LOT of people ain't happy about the size and Face ID.
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