Came here to comment the same. Not sure how a marginally larger battery is going to exceed current iPhone battery life when the Fold is powering an extra 2 screens. Wouldn’t we expect almost double the battery capacity?
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Apple's Foldable iPhone Rumored to Feature Unrivaled Battery Life
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Sorry I really don't even know how to respond to that. I've been using Face ID every day for 9 years, and also have an iPad Air sitting here that has Side Button Touch ID.
There is no comparison between the two.
The Game 161
macrumors Nehalem
But it isn’t worse
Face ID is very good but completely useless if it’s not in your hand. On a desk? Awful. On the sofa? Awful.
Touch ID will be far superior no matter if the phone is in your hands or not
You’re basing your theory here on the Touch ID on iPads. It don’t be like on iPads. It will be a side finger print scanner it will be far easier to use that any iPad with it on
Came here to say exactly this. I’d be much more likely to buy any iPhone that brings back Touch ID. I am really not a fan of the “hold the phone in front of face and stare at it” move you have to do with Face ID. Touch ID was really more convenient where it could be facing any direction and pick up your fingerprint.
It also just seemed to work a lot better. Seems like even after all these years of Face ID it misses my face a lot and I end up typing my passcode. And there are certain pairs of sunglasses I own that just break it completely. Touch ID always worked flawlessly and instantly.
isnt it just an ipad mini with a hinge at presumably 5x the cost?
VulchR
macrumors 68040
Battery capacity is only one determinant of battery life - power consumption is the other, and the article does not mention either the power requirements of the device or the estimated battery life.
I any case, I would like to see increased battery life for all of Apple's mobile devices, hopefully in a less polluting way. We'll see.
I any case, I would like to see increased battery life for all of Apple's mobile devices, hopefully in a less polluting way. We'll see.
Plutonius
macrumors G4
Because much of the weight in an iPhone is due to the battery and Apple is claiming unrivaled battery life in the foldable. The battery is claimed to be 5,500 mAh in size which is large and much heavier than the battery in the Air.
VulchR
macrumors 68040
klasma
macrumors G4
Unrivaled? Class-leading? The Oppo foldable from last year has a 5600 mAh battery.
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Spock
Contributor
If they don’t release a foldable this year, I’m going with Samsung. I’m tired of waiting for Apple to catch up.
It makes sense Apple prioritizes the large battery power as the unfolding screen with everything in it will consume a lot of power. It is good to hear this!! If this rumor materializes, the iFold users will definitely appreciate Apple and the product!
You're making the mistake of believing your own subjective opinions of FaceID are objective ones. Other people can and will have different opinions. People use their devices differently, and FaceID and TouchID do perform differently for different people. People will have different grievances with each on them.
Nonetheless, FaceID presents 3 challenges for a folding phone, so it makes sense Apple may not be including it:
1. Two screens means two FaceID modules. One for the inner screen and one of the outer screen.
2. Thickness. The Face ID module is housed in the camera plateau of other iPhones. No such bump out is possible on the outer screen of a folding phone, since when folded, it sits on top of the inner screen.
3. Battery life. Both of the above translate to much less space available for batteries.
There are ways to make FaceID work on a foldable. The easiest method being to add a non-folding portion on the top or side of the phone to hold faceID and cameras that are usable with the phone open or closed, but that comes with it's own set of trade-offs. Regardless of your feelings on the matter, there are certain physical realities that can help explain why Apple may be taking this route.
klasma
macrumors G4
The iPhone Air isn’t heavy, but also not that impressive in terms of weight. The iPhone 12 weighed less than the Air.
klasma
macrumors G4
Unfortunately, side button Touch ID is worse than home button Touch ID is.
The general benefit of Touch ID is that by the time the phone is in front of your face, it is already unlocked, while Face ID takes an extra half second or second.
They’re running multiple screens so this just doesn’t add up. I’m sure the Apple fan boys are going off the deep end in ecstasy. I want to see a battery that size in a standard iPhone Pro, then we can talk about pro level battery life.
code-m
Suspended
FaceID on the exterior display to unlock the device and then when unfolded it still unlocked. If the device is unfolded and locked then to unlock, use TouchID.
TouchID can be used both in the exterior display and interior to unlock while FaceID to unlock the exterior display only then unfold. This device may have both security measures which is what people have been drooling about for ages.
uacd
macrumors 68000
Most people have "interesting" logic:isnt it just an ipad mini with a hinge at presumably 5x the cost?
iFlop for 2000$✅
Regular iPhone + iPad Air for ~1300$❌
Maybe they need "all in one device" though... however I won't understand what's the point since having two devices is much more comfortable than one and preserves battery of both: twice less charge cycles, battery alive for many more years
HouseLannister
macrumors 68040
Unrivaled battery size is not necessarily unrivaled battery life. And it is still quite small compared to all the SiC phones coming out the last couple years. Here’s hoping they get back to optimizing iOS 27 for battery life, because iOS 26 was a big step backwards for battery life.
So are we expecting this to have feature parity with the Pro lineup - effectively making it the “best” choice with no compromises? Or are we expecting it to be an iPhone Air-type experience?
Like - a single camera? No Apple LOG? Possibly a single speaker?
Somehow I think it’ll be a ‘lifestyle’ choice and I expect the pro lineup will stick around with better features for power users.
Like - a single camera? No Apple LOG? Possibly a single speaker?
Somehow I think it’ll be a ‘lifestyle’ choice and I expect the pro lineup will stick around with better features for power users.
I'm not making any assumptions. Looking at your phone to unlock it is objectively better and superior than fumbling to rest your finger on the side of the device in a certain way. Full stop. This is not up for debate. Just because the minority of people's anecdotal experiences with either have some variation does not mean anything.
Some people have rare poor experiences with Face ID and write off the entire thing as a result. Others want the foldable and are willing to make weak excuses for its trade offs.
That said, yes the physical realities you mention present challenges. The decision is whether those challenges should stop the production of the product or not. I believe that with someone other than late-stage Tim Cook at the helm, they would have decided differently.