One of the tech industry’s premier Apple prognosticators is once again revising his prediction for in-display Touch ID. Ming-Chi Kuo has been theorizing about the prospect of in-display Touch ID in the iPhone since as far back as 2019, initially suggesting that the tech giant would begin offering in-display fingerprint authentication in its 2021 models.
That deadline has come and gone, and Kuo is now reporting that in-display Touch ID is as far away now as it was in 2019. His latest prediction is based on a survey of the current supply chain situation, and suggests that Apple will not have in-display Touch ID in any of its iPhone models in 2023 or 2024.
If true, that would mean that the technology would not appear until 2025 at the earliest. Kuo has pushed his prediction window back several times in the past few years, with his most recent report in September hinting that in-display Touch ID would arrive with the iPhone 15 in 2023.
In addition to citing supply chain issues, Kuo noted that in-display Touch ID does not seem to be a top priority for Apple at the current moment. Despite some hiccups early in the pandemic, the tech giant has taken steps to improve the performance of Face ID for people who are wearing masks, and has also introduced a feature that allows people to unlock their iPhone with an Apple Watch. As a result, Apple may be happy with its existing authentication options.
It’s also worth noting that the most recent batch of iPhone rumors have concerned in-display Face ID rather than Touch ID. Apple is reportedly planning to place its TrueDepth sensors under the screen in the upcoming iPhone 14, using a hole-punch display comparable to those that have already appeared in devices from other manufacturers. It could then use Samsung technology to upgrade to a true under-the-display system for the following year.
Sources: 9 to 5 Mac, Apple Insider
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