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Despite having tested and worked on the technology, Apple has decided not to include an under-screen Touch ID sensor with the upcoming iPhone 13, continuing to leave customers with Face ID as the only biometric authentication option for the iPhone.

iPhone-12-TouchID-Feature-Img.jpg

Apple had been testing Touch ID technology that would have allowed the company to place the sensor under the display on the iPhone, allowing users to simply put their finger on the display to authenticate. While Apple regularly tests and researches new ideas and technologies, reports earlier in the year had suggested the company was on track to include Touch ID under the display with the 2021 iPhones.

Now, however, Apple's plans have shifted dramatically, as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports in his latest Power On newsletter, an under-screen Touch ID sensor "won't make the cut" for the iPhone 13. Gurman states that Apple's eventual goal is to embed Face ID under the display rather than Touch ID.

The second-generation iPhone SE is currently the only iPhone within the lineup that features Touch ID, but it has made a recent reappearance in the iPad. With the latest-generation iPad Air, Apple engineers were able to embed Touch ID into the Power Button. Apple could choose to bring that same technology to future low-end iPhones while keeping Face ID exclusive to higher-end models.

The reasons for Apple's decision to scrap its initial plan to include Touch ID with the iPhone 13 remains unknown; however, the company may not have felt that the technology is mature enough yet to go mainstream in its flagship iPhones. Alternatively, the company may have felt less pressure to include the feature following the launch of iOS 14.5, which allows customers to unlock their iPhones with their Apple Watch.


The global health crisis and daily wearing of a face mask increased demand for Touch ID, as Face ID doesn't work while a user is wearing a face covering. Apple addressed the problem with iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4, allowing customers to unlock their iPhone while they're wearing a mask, as long as they have an Apple Watch.

While the lack of an under-screen Touch ID sensor will be disappointing for some, Apple is still planning some considerable upgrades with the iPhone 13. The new iPhones will focus heavily on camera capabilities, including ProRes and portrait mode for videos. The new handsets will also include a smaller notch, larger batteries, and improved performance.

Article Link: Touch ID Not Returning With iPhone 13, Despite Apple Testing Under-Screen
I liked Touch ID. I wasn’t overly happy when I got the XR with Face ID. It worked ok and I got used to it. Then when I got the 11 I thought ok, this is the way Face ID should work. It was vastly better. Faster and reads faces from a wider angle. My current 12 is also fantastic. I only miss Touch ID in stores when wearing a mask. Given a choice, I MUCH prefer Face ID. BUT, since Apple has the tech already to put Touch ID in the power button, why not add that to the phone for those that prefer it and for situations where Face ID doesn’t work well. I know, money. But it would likely not cost much since the tech already exists and is used in other Apple products.
 
I don’t understand why FaceID is touted as being superior. It isn’t. It’s less convenient and very flaky. I consistently have to tap “try again” and I’m fed up with it. I just want my fingerprint scanner back and an OLED screen.
I don't understand why Touch ID is touted as being superior.It isn't.It's less convenient and very flaky.I consistently had to try again and I was fed up with it.Face ID is far superior.
 
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Guess I’ll be hanging on to my iPhone 6S Plus even longer. Just need to get the battery replaced.
 
Why does everyone care so much about Touch ID the pandemic is over soon in the U.K. you don’t need to wear masks anymore
Even before the pandemic, my Face ID had a miss rate of about 20%… that went up to about 90% when wearing sunglasses. Compare that to Touch ID, which consistently had a miss rate of about 1-3% for me.

I’m not saying get rid of Face ID. Some people love it and more power to them, but for me it’s busted. I want the option for Touch ID.
 
Oh good, more guesses from Gurman. Welcome to the new Apple TV+ show "Guesses by Gurman." I hope someone is writing down all these guesses so we can throw them in his face after they fail to materialize or to be accurate...
 
Why does everyone care so much about Touch ID the pandemic is over soon in the U.K. you don’t need to wear masks anymore
Because I can count the number of times TouchID on my iPhone SE (first gen) has failed to work in the last year, on one hand. On my iPhone X, I couldn't count the number of times that FaceID had failed to work in a single day with both hands. Heck, that's half the reason I went back to the SE in the first place.

I have glasses and a beard, so my face "changes" quite a bit throughout the course of a single day. My fingerprint doesn't.
 
Because I can count the number of times TouchID on my iPhone SE (first gen) has failed to work in the last year, on one hand. On my iPhone X, I couldn't count the number of times that FaceID had failed to work in a single day with both hands. Heck, that's half the reason I went back to the SE in the first place.

I have glasses and a beard, so my face "changes" quite a bit throughout the course of a single day. My fingerprint doesn't.
Everybody has their anecdotal stories about what works and what doesn’t. I would definitely like to see the option of Touch ID, but that is not a deterrent to buying the iphone 13.
 
The placement of the TouchID reader on the old iPhones was very convenient. I don't see this on the under-screen TouchID. I don't mind it if price is not changing ... higher price that is.
 
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unlocking with Apple Watch is not the solution!!!, is jus a workaround for some!. In the car faceid does not work well, is very unsafe as I have to grab the phone or move myself to get closer to the phone and many time try more than once!.
Face ID is not more elegant, as there is the huge notch, it is not safer in the real world, how many sons have unlocked their parents phone with Face ID but NOT with Touch ID?. The technology is there, Chinese and Korean phones have it since forever now. Even Touch ID in the power button is better than the marketing fiasco of Faceid. Give me choice to authenticate!. But I will but the 13 despite being a “display upgrade” only…
 
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or you love typing in 4-6 digit numbers 100x a day while wearing a mask
That's just for people using a weak numeric passcode. I use a stronger, longer, alphanumeric passcode. Entering that more than once or twice per day is untenable.

Even before masking became commonplace, Face ID never worked very well. I still have Touch ID on my iPad and it works much better. It's just far more reliable and faster to unlock. I can't believe Apple is going to make us continue waiting for something that should have already been in the iPhone 12 models.
 
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I'm getting tired of waiting for Apple to catch up with the competition. My biggest bug bear right now is wearing face masks and not being able to authenticate Apple Pay in stores. I've never found FaceID to be more convenient than TouchID... Fix it.
Where do you have to wear a face mask right now?
 
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I find it so funny that almost half of the people here hate Touch ID that much.
Touch ID is 3D Touch all over again. I just saw a thread the other day with a bunch of people reminiscing about 3D Touch. I distinctly remember all of the celebration over its omission when it was rumored that the 11 models would ship without it, and how "good" that was that Apple was dropping it. These people are insane.

Now, again, it's a group of ravenous people online begging Apple to deliberately ship less capable hardware by omitting Touch ID in any capacity (even as an option to use instead of or paired with Face ID); and clamoring over how "futuristic" they feel Face ID is, even though it constantly sits there and spins for 4 seconds while you stare at it before it fails out for seemingly no legitimate reason, fails if you try to unlock while you're laughing, fails if your phone is sitting on a desk, fails if you're holding your phone landscape, locks you out if you're holding your phone in your hand and walking with it, and fails if you try to use it when you're first waking up. Or how it's "more secure," even though most people's siblings can unlock someone's phone with Face ID -- something that was never an issue with Touch ID.

Then they'll turn around two years from now and whine about how much they loved and miss Touch ID and want it back.
 
Fine by me, I don’t need Touchid when Faceid is so superior. Alongside “Unlock with Apple Watch” it’s even better.
Apple Watch does not help when you are standing in a crowded line at a store to check out since it does not work for Apple Pay. You have to pull off your mask to operate the phone in the one location where you do not want to pull off your mask in order to make your purchase. Plus, everybody around you is freaking out that you are removing your mask. Sort of defeats the purpose of Apple Pay when it is quicker to just insert your credit card.
 
Touch ID is 3D Touch all over again. I just saw a thread the other day with a bunch of people reminiscing about 3D Touch. I distinctly remember all of the celebration over its omission when it was rumored that the 11 models would ship without it, and how "good" that was that Apple was dropping it. These people are insane.

Now, again, it's a group of ravenous people online begging Apple to deliberately ship less capable hardware by omitting Touch ID in any capacity (even as an option to use instead of or paired with Face ID); and clamoring over how "futuristic" they feel Face ID is, even though it constantly sits there and spins for 4 seconds while you stare at it before it fails out for seemingly no legitimate reason, fails if you try to unlock while you're laughing, fails if your phone is sitting on a desk, fails if you're holding your phone landscape, locks you out if you're holding your phone in your hand and walking with it, and fails if you try to use it when you're first waking up. Or how it's "more secure," even though most people's siblings can unlock someone's phone with Face ID -- something that was never an issue with Touch ID.

Then they'll turn around two years from now and whine about how much they loved and miss Touch ID and want it back.
Yes, people enjoy looking like a tool while they try and get FaceID to work. So much easier (SIC) than tapping your CC to the Point of Sale terminal.
 
Honestly this would be fine if they would just update Face ID to work with a mask. It doesn't have to be as secure (include a disclaimer).

I don't need Fort Knox level security on my phone. Those that do should have the option of using face id without a mask. But those that don't (probably the vast majority of users) should be able to trade less security for convenience.
 
Looks like this year will be another pass for me. My XS is getting long in the tooth. With this and the spyware, for the first time ever Android is looking tempting.

Apple is a lot like (insert illicit substance here). You say you don't need it, but you are going to buy it, because you are addicted.
 
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