Under-Display Touch ID Finally Coming With iPhone 13?
Updated: Aug 21, 2021
An under-display version of Apple’s Touch ID might be coming to the new iPhone 13 series releasing later this year.
Credit: Apple
Retail News Asia published an article stating that Apple is currently working on an improved version of their Touch ID — which will be under the display — for the iPhone 13 while also retaining the more recent Face ID feature, according to Barclays analysts. However, the publication stated that well-known analysts and trusted insiders “seem hesitant [to say that] the iPhone 13 will indeed make this important leap forward.”
The return of Touch ID has been frequently rumoured in the past. Joe Rossignol of MacRumors reported that Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple was planning on launching an iPhone equipped with both Face ID and Touch ID under the display in 2019. However, Kuo’s recent research notes had no mention of the feature coming to iPhone 13 models.
A possible look at the iPhone 13’s under-the-display Touch ID Credit: MacRumors
“For what it’s worth, there are no words on how Apple’s internal testing of the under-glass Touch ID technology is going or what companies will supply the necessary parts and components to make this upgrade possible in the latest report anticipating ‘2H21 iPhone’ changes and beyond,” Retail News Asia said.
Barclays analysts also predict a slightly smaller notch on all iPhone 13 models, said to accommodate a “more tightly integrated version of the existing structured light system” for Face ID. Rossignol’s report also mentioned Barclays’ analysis, adding that their research is “at least partly based on ‘extensive industry conversations’ with suppliers in recent weeks.”
Retail News Asia also remarked that Apple is planning on making a mini version of the iPhone 13 despite underwhelming sales of the iPhone 12 Mini. This is also accompanied by the speculation that the LiDAR sensor will be integrated into the quad rear-facing camera system of the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max. Retail News Asia predicts that Apple is planning on having the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 mini to “follow in the footsteps of their predecessors with no 3D LiDAR scanner on their back.”
An iPhone 12 mini Credit: Apple
Retail News Asia mentioned that it is uncertain if Apple will decide to go portless for the iPhone 13 in 2021. However, if they do, we’ll have improved battery capacity and expanded storage to look forward to.
Additionally, we could see a new feature in the iPhone 14. It’s been rumoured that the iPhone 14 could be the first iPhone to have a punch-hole display. Rossignol, citing Kuo’s research notes in his report on 1 March 2021, stated that if production yields are good enough, all 2022 iPhone models may use this design.
Written by John Paul Joaquin