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[DECIDING FACTOR POLL] Is TouchID going to be coming back in a successor to the iPhone X?

Will TouchID be coming back to the successor of the iPhone X?

  • Yes, future iPhones succeeding the X will have Touch ID once Apple figures it out.

    Votes: 77 36.7%

  • No, Face ID is the future. It will be like the headphone jack, it's gone.. it's gone.

    Votes: 133 63.3%
  • Total voters
    210
Starfyre

Starfyre

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Nov 7, 2010
2,905
1,136
Having read the macrumors post on Face ID, which was a really enjoyable read if you haven't read it already... the part that caught my eye was:

"Apple says Face ID is the future of how we will unlock our smartphones, suggesting Face ID will be the de facto Touch ID replacement in devices going forward."

Did Apple actually make this claim or is this being inferred? If this is stated, I can see why Apple wouldn't bring it back (despite manufacturing/engineering troubles that prevented it from getting in).

Either way, the purpose of this poll is to see how much of the community is thinking TouchID will come in the future or is coming back. I've seen both sides to the story:
"Apple does not put stuff back that they've removed."
"Yes, they have to!"
"They tried, but failed to get Touch ID in, this year is a cover-up until next year!"
"They tried, but failed to get Touch ID in, they made the decision that Face ID is the future and are not going to go back."
"TouchID will come back and FaceID will be there too!"

Depending on the outcome of this poll, I will decide whether to upgrade my at least 3 year old phone to an X, or maybe.... stick with it for another year.

Given everything that I am reading about the X, it looks worth it to have the form factor of close to a 7/8 while having all the advantages of the larger +, with a bit more. The only thing that is has me caught in a bind, is Touch ID.

I know we can't get a response from Apple, so I am relying on the best Apple community I know to collectively help me, and people like myself to seeing how many people really think TouchID is gone, vs those that think it's going to come back.

I ask you be honest in your vote, and do not check the results prior to voting.
Your honestly goes a long way and will help me and people like me, maybe even yourselves with your own decision.
Don't game the polls. If you lie to me and the community in this poll, your lying to your yourself.
 
Last edited:
I think it is *highly* likely that TouchID is essentially dead after the 8/8+. Has Apple ever brought back a bit of tech after removing it?
 
sniffies said:
They didn't plan to remove it. Manufacturing troubles forced them to. It's definitely coming back.
Click to expand...

I agree that they didn't plan to remove it, but I think once they came up with FaceID as an alternative, they won't go back especially after casting it as superior and more secure tech to TouchID. If they went back to TouchID, it would be an acknowledgement that FaceID isn't working.

Apple never wants egg on its face.

Apple will never put itself in a position of having to save face.

Okay, those were weak puns.
 
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My guess is next year's iPhone 8s (or 9) gets the new front camera tech and keeps home button so get both Face and Touch ID

iPhone Xs will stay as only OLED option and stick to Face ID only
 
It's possible that Apple could bring it back, mostly because in their keynote they stated the security statistics of Face ID vs. Touch ID. If you use both, that makes it even more secure.
 
motm95 said:
I think it is *highly* likely that TouchID is essentially dead after the 8/8+. Has Apple ever brought back a bit of tech after removing it?
Click to expand...
Yes on the MacBook Air when they removed the back lit keyboard and then brought it back on the next release
 
motm95 said:
I agree that they didn't plan to remove it, but I think once they came up with FaceID as an alternative, they won't go back especially after casting it as superior and more secure tech to TouchID. If they went back to TouchID, it would be an acknowledgement that FaceID isn't working.

Apple never wants egg on its face.

Apple will never put itself in a position of having to save face.

Okay, those were weak puns.
Click to expand...

Most phones now have multiple unlock methods, including fingerprint, face, iris scanning. I see no reason Apple couldn't reintroduce TouchID under the screen once they have it working reliably, while still retaining FaceID.
 
motm95 said:
I agree that they didn't plan to remove it, but I think once they came up with FaceID as an alternative, they won't go back especially after casting it as superior and more secure tech to TouchID. If they went back to TouchID, it would be an acknowledgement that FaceID isn't working.

Apple never wants egg on its face.

Apple will never put itself in a position of having to save face.

Okay, those were weak puns.
Click to expand...
I think my post sounds a little misleading. What I mean is that Touch ID is coming back next year and co-exist with Face ID, not replace it.
 
timeconsumer said:
It's possible that Apple could bring it back, mostly because in their keynote they stated the security statistics of Face ID vs. Touch ID. If you use both, that makes it even more secure.
Click to expand...

Having the option to set the biometric as either FaceID, or TouchID, or both would be welcome. I can see simultaneous authentication of FaceID and TouchID as being more secure. No one can just grab the phone out of your hand and point it at your face to unlock, they will need your fingerprint at the same time as well. Unlikely that Apple will provide these options but one can fantasize.
 
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Dexterama said:
Having the option to set the biometric as either FaceID, or TouchID, or both would be welcome. I can see simultaneous authentication of FaceID and TouchID as being more secure. No one can just grab the phone out of your hand and point it at your face to unlock, they will need your fingerprint at the same time as well. Unlikely that Apple will provide these options but one can fantasize.
Click to expand...
I completely agree with this statement, and it would reduce the likelihood for naming collisions.

iPhone 8, iPhone 9...

iPhone X, iPhone err... XT? XI? XII? If the only differentiating factor is the Touch ID and screen, then it is not clear to me how they can continue to expand on the naming conventions.
 
sniffies said:
You do realize that they had no plans to remove it, right? Manufacturing troubles forced them to. It's definitely coming back.
Click to expand...

This is why I think we'll probably see it return next year. It's obvious Apple wanted to keep it. They just need more time to get it to work.
 
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mj1108 said:
This is why I think we'll probably see it return next year. It's obvious Apple wanted to keep it. They just need more time to get it to work.
Click to expand...

If Apple can meet the yield issues with implementing A finger print sensor under an OLED display, then perhaps next year. But I doubt touch ID will return next year, as Face ID will likely be the primary for while.
 
Face ID is the future.

Touch ID doesn't make sense from a marketing nor a production perspective.

It's a waste of resources to work on in-display Touch ID, especially given the OLED production constraints. Look at the current OLED situation - it would add another layer of complexity for manufacturing. Apple will be lucky if LG can ramp in time for 2018.

From a security perspective, Face ID is supposed to be more secure. Why would Apple go back to something less secure and less convenient?
 
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JPack said:
Face ID is the future.

Touch ID doesn't make sense from a marketing nor a production perspective.

It's a waste of resources to work on in-display Touch ID, especially given the OLED production constraints. Look at the current OLED situation - it would add another layer of complexity for manufacturing. Apple will be lucky if LG can ramp in time for 2018.

From a security perspective, Face ID is supposed to be more secure. Why would Apple go back to something less secure and less convenient?
Click to expand...

Whats going to happen with all Apps that use Touch ID? Sounds like they are splitting their ecosystem up...
 
Starfyre said:
Whats going to happen with all Apps that use Touch ID? Sounds like they are splitting their ecosystem up...
Click to expand...

Hands on demos have shown third party apps working with Face ID instead of Touch ID. Not sure at what level this change occurs, or if the developer needs to do something.
 
Starfyre said:
Having read the macrumors post on Face ID, which was a really enjoyable read if you haven't read it already... the part that caught my eye was:

"Apple says Face ID is the future of how we will unlock our smartphones, suggesting Face ID will be the de facto Touch ID replacement in devices going forward."

Did Apple actually make this claim or is this being inferred? If this is stated, I can see why Apple wouldn't bring it back (despite manufacturing/engineering troubles that prevented it from getting in).

Either way, the purpose of this poll is to see how much of the community is thinking TouchID will come in the future or is coming back. I've seen both sides to the story:
"Apple does not put stuff back that they've removed."
"Yes, they have to!"
"They tried, but failed to get Touch ID in, this year is a cover-up until next year!"
"They tried, but failed to get Touch ID in, they made the decision that Face ID is the future and are not going to go back."
"TouchID will come back and FaceID will be there too!"

Depending on the outcome of this poll, I will decide whether to upgrade my at least 3 year old phone to an X, or maybe.... stick with it for another year.

Given everything that I am reading about the X, it looks worth it to have the form factor of close to a 7/8 while having all the advantages of the larger +, with a bit more. The only thing that is has me caught in a bind, is Touch ID.

I know we can't get a response from Apple, so I am relying on the best Apple community I know to collectively help me, and people like myself to seeing how many people really think TouchID is gone, vs those that think it's going to come back.

I ask you be honest in your vote, and do not check the results prior to voting.
Your honestly goes a long way and will help me and people like me, maybe even yourselves with your own decision.
Don't game the polls. If you lie to me and the community in this poll, your lying to your yourself.
Click to expand...

In terms of speed Face ID/Iris scan is many times faster than Touch ID in s8+. I am sure same will be with iphone 8 and X. If Face ID found to be safe then I don't see any reason to bring back Touch ID.
 
The 2 technologies will coexist...in a sense. The lower end cheaper phones will likely continue to offer TouchID with large bezels as a lower cost option, like the iPhone 8/8+/SE today. The higher end phones will rely solely on FaceID. If it is more secure and it works as promised, there is no sense whatsoever to bring back TouchID under the screen. It would add to overal cost to manufacture, adding no additional value, and impact margin on the phone.

With regards to the comment on "splitting up the ecosystem"...this reflects a misunderstanding of how authentication works on an iPhone and is not the case. An app that uses TouchID does not need to be updated or changed to use FaceID...the authentication protocol will ask for whichever is available.
 
Starfyre said:
Whats going to happen with all Apps that use Touch ID? Sounds like they are splitting their ecosystem up...
Click to expand...

Touch ID has some disadvantages for Apple like dedicated space, home button is a hardware removing this saves money on hardware. Yes they are using Face ID/camera/scanner but for apple i guess FaceID is more convenient plus additional they are getting eliminating Touch ID.
 
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Starfyre said:
Well, listening to the talk show with Craig F, he says all executives are using iPhone X w/o Touch ID, seems weird for them to handicap themselves? Listening to this talk show is really "Pro-FaceID"

https://daringfireball.net/thetalkshow/2017/09/15/ep-200
Click to expand...

Handicap themselves?

Let's face it. I know there's the obsession by users here to have the accessibility setting turned on so raising to wake + touch ID will jump to the home screen. But beyond that, there's more benefits for Face ID and so much more potential for it. Face ID is the successor to Touch ID.

Also nice tidbit from the podcast - any app that uses Touch ID will still work - the system will return a success or failure from a Face ID check.
 
Who knows, I think Apple invested in a lot of money in the facial recognition, both from buying the company that does this and their own work. I find it hard to believe they'd not fully embrace this
 
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