Despite rumors of the return of the Touch ID fingerprint sensor, Apple seems to have favored Face ID for the iPhone 13.
For several months, rumors have suggested that Apple had decided to reintroduce Touch ID on its future iPhone 13. This fingerprint sensor is sorely missed by users, especially since facial recognition is proving difficult in times of a pandemic. , with the wearing of the mask. Bloomberg media reporter Mark Gurman says Apple has abandoned the project and wants to keep Face ID as its primary unlocking solution.
Key ID disappears in favor of Face ID
In theory, Face ID facial recognition is faster than the Touch ID sensor. However, with the requirement to wear a mask, iPhone users often find themselves forced to manually enter their unlock codes. The only solution to avoid this constraint today is to wear an Apple Watch.
Unlike Android manufacturers, which have mostly integrated the fingerprint sensor into the back of the phone or opted for eye-based facial recognition, Apple has continued to bet on Face ID. The rumors on the next iPhone had however largely put forward the return of Touch ID for this year. Prototypes of this kind have been tested internally but were eventually abandoned by Apple.
Gurman says Apple is working on facial recognition technology hidden under the screen, on a model similar to the front sensor in Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3. Although on trial, this feature is unlikely to be released with the iPhone 13. It also seems to be designed for high-end iPhones. For slightly cheaper iPhones, Apple seems to continue to integrate Face ID instead.
Ultimately, there is therefore little chance of seeing Face ID and Touch ID coexist on an Apple smartphone. However, facial recognition technologies tend to improve in the years to come, as suggested by the new functionality being tested by Android.