iPhone 6 Fingerprint Sensor Production Set to Gear Up in Q2 with Increased Efficiency

MacRumors · Jan 14, 2014

Apple's iPhone fingerprint sensor supplier TSMC is preparing to begin production on sensors for the iPhone 6 in the second quarter of this year, according to a report from Digitimes. The report claims that TSMC will be shifting to a larger 12-inch fab from the current 8-inch fab, a move that should increase production efficiency. TSMC will also handle the packaging process for the sensors itself rather than contracting out to other firms, centralizing control over the component.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) reportedly will begin producing fingerprint sensors for Apple's next-generation iPhone at its 12-inch fab using a 65nm process in the second quarter of 2014, according to industry sources. [...]

TSMC has been fabricating the fingerprint sensors for iPhone 5s at its 8-inch fabs, while outsourcing the backend services to Xintec, China Wafer Level CSP and Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE).

The Touch ID fingerprint sensor was reported to be the primary factor contributing to very tight supplies of the iPhone 5s at its launch last September, with low yield rates at packaging firm Xintec and iOS 7-sensor integration slowing production. With several of those issues now ironed out and TSMC able to get an earlier start on sensor production for the next-generation iPhone, that bottleneck on launch supplies appears likely to be solved.

Article Link: iPhone 6 Fingerprint Sensor Production Set to Gear Up in Q2 with Increased Efficiency

impulse462 · Jan 14, 2014

Hopefully it works better in cold environments than TouchID on the 5s.

phillipduran · Jan 14, 2014

I've turned mine off. It has been more annoying than helpful for me.

Ballis · Jan 14, 2014

Hopefully they can make enough to include them on the next ipad.

mohdamerul · Jan 14, 2014

good

does this means it's finally coming to iPad?

joshwenke · Jan 14, 2014

Alright Apple, let's get those fingerprint sensors on the new iPads, and if you really love us then add profiles to the iPad as well!

goobot · Jan 14, 2014

I personally love the touch id sensor on my 5S, i hope iOS 8 takes advantage of it more. I also wonder if they will double the DPI on the next gen version.

JaySoul · Jan 14, 2014

Apple do seem to be shipping more features out which end up not working particularly well.

All companies do that but Apple didn't used to this much (in my head at least).

doelcm82 · Jan 14, 2014

So much for doubling down on secrecy. Now we know the iPhone 6 will have a fingerprint sensor.

j/k

It's probably easier to ramp up production early when you aren't trying to keep a new feature under wraps from your customers and competitors.

I'm on a 2-year cycle with my iPhone upgrades, so I skipped the iPhone 5S. I'm really looking forward to the iPhone 6.

snebes · Jan 14, 2014

impulse462 said:
Hopefully it works better in cold environments than TouchID on the 5s.

I didn't associate the cold with my Touch ID not working so well -- glad you said that, it makes sense that I've had some issues when using it outside. I hope it is improved as well.

BJMRamage · Jan 14, 2014

I find mine works well more than 75% of the time. there are instances where after several tries i give up and punch in my password.

But it is nice to mostly be able to press/hold and view the last open thing.

I do agree that cold weather hands don't work too well.

AngerDanger · Jan 14, 2014

wizard · Jan 14, 2014

Ballis said:
Hopefully they can make enough to include them on the next ipad.

That is the first thing I thought of.

lolkthxbai · Jan 14, 2014

joshwenke said:
Alright Apple, let's get those fingerprint sensors on the new iPads, and if you really love us then add profiles to the iPad as well!

Introducing... The iPad Air with Touch ID.

Available March 2014

Wait, what...? Again!?

flyingember · Jan 14, 2014

Apple is just like Microsoft in proving names don't have to make sense in product context.

intriguingly this is the third year the media has called the new model the iphone 6.

1. *2G
2. 3G
3. 3GS
4. 4
5. 4S
6. 5/5C
7. 5S
8. 6?

In the same way, Windows 8 is no less than the 10th consumer release for Windows
1. 1.0
2. 2.0
3. 3.0/3.1
4. 95
5. 98/98 SE
6. ME
7. XP
8. Vista
9. 7
10. 8/8.1
11. 9?

AppleScruff1 · Jan 14, 2014

flyingember said:
Apple is just like Microsoft in proving names don't have to make sense in product context.

intriguingly this is the third year the media has called the new model the iphone 6.

1. *2G
2. 3G
3. 3GS
4. 4
5. 4S
6. 5/5C
7. 5S
8. 6?

In the same way, Windows 8 is no less than the 10th consumer release for Windows
1. 1.0
2. 2.0
3. 3.0/3.1
4. 95
5. 98/98 SE
6. ME
7. XP
8. Vista
9. 7
10. 8/8.1
11. 9?

Neither of them must be math wizards.

Sky Blue · Jan 14, 2014

That's fab news.

newdeal · Jan 14, 2014

Lets just get rid of the home button all together and make the display larger.

drewyboy · Jan 14, 2014

impulse462 said:
Hopefully it works better in cold environments than TouchID on the 5s.

I'm going to have to disagree with you. Not saying that you haven't had issues in the cold.. but from your profile you in SF Bay... I live in Minnesota, where we just had wind chills of 60 below the other week. So from my experience in the cold, I didn't notice any. Granted, the only time I actually had my gloves off was when I had to work on my car in a garage with a not working heater.. so it was still pretty stink'n cold. I had to go inside every 10-15 to warm up. Anyways, didn't have any issues then. Guess millage may vary but yes, it does, I should actually say CAN, work in the cold.

MrXiro · Jan 14, 2014

phillipduran said:
I've turned mine off. It has been more annoying than helpful for me.

I only keep mine on for App store purchases. As an unlock it's not any faster than me typing in 4 digits due to the 15% failure rate I get and the extra second I need to hold my finger down on the sensor.

tbrinkma · Jan 14, 2014

snebes said:
I didn't associate the cold with my Touch ID not working so well -- glad you said that, it makes sense that I've had some issues when using it outside. I hope it is improved as well.

There's two basic reasons why cold might have this effect:

Lower temperatures means decreased blood flow to the extremities, which changes the capacitance of your finger tips, and thus your finger print.
You're wearing gloves.

One of them is easy to solve.

MrXiro · Jan 14, 2014

newdeal said:
Lets just get rid of the home button all together and make the display larger.

terrible idea unless they steal LG's double tap to wake feature.

Rogifan · Jan 14, 2014

Hmm...according to 9to5Mac, Apple is beginning to hire employees for its Mesa, Arizona facility. According to the job description it appears the facility may be used for manufacturing iPhone/iPod components.

http://9to5mac.com/2014/01/14/apple...engineers-for-mesa-arizona-plant/#more-305989

mazz0 · Jan 14, 2014

Mine works close to a hundred percent of the time, but I haven't used it outside in the cold much. It is the deciding factor on when I upgrade my iPad (that and I'll have to try out the larger model).

BlindGoldfish · Jan 14, 2014

Half the time, it works every time.

iPhone 6 Fingerprint Sensor Production Set to Gear Up in Q2 with Increased Efficiency

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