Cupertino-based tech giant Apple is reportedly continuing its under-screen fingerprint sensor technology research to reintroduce Touch ID in its first full-screen model.
According to a new rumor, the company is looking into the possibility of using under-screen Touch ID in future iPhones, despite the popularity of Face ID that debuted in 2017’s iPhone X.
Since the introduction of Face ID, the roadmap for Touch ID on iPhones has been unclear. Some experts suggest that Apple is considering Face ID as the exclusive biometric solution for future models. However, Apple has been working on a Touch ID system designed to be set under the display since 2013, with several patents awarded to the company over the years.
Recent rumors suggest that Apple will adopt a hidden biometric technology for Face ID, which could end the 8-year lifespan of the notch. With under-panel Face ID, the whole screen of the iPhone could be free of notches, and the technology could also end the notch for other Apple products, including the MacBook Pro.
However, technical problems have pushed back the introduction of under-screen Touch ID until 2025, or the expected launch of the iPhone 17 lineup. According to industry sources, Apple is projected to unveil the under-screen Touch ID within two to three years following the introduction of the under-panel Face ID.
Apple was granted a recent patent that combines shortwave infrared technology with an optical imaging system for under-screen Touch ID, which may serve multiple purposes.
The latest embodiment aims to read the user’s fingerprint, determine vein pattern, blood oxygenation, pulse, and the presence of gloves and wetness.
Overall, the rumors suggest that Apple is looking to introduce under-screen fingerprint sensor technology and reintroduce Touch ID in the coming years. However, the tech giant has no official word regarding these speculations.
