Update August 22, 2021: According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has tried to provide the iPhone 13 with Touch ID, but it probably won't work this year. This can be read in the latest edition of the Power On newsletter. Apple would have a long-term goal to incorporate Face ID into the screen, just like with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3. There have been rumors for years that Apple will bring Touch ID back to the high-end models, but according to Gurman, that will not happen in 2021. He foresees two scenarios, where the more expensive models always have Face ID in the screen. The cheaper devices either have a Face ID notch or Touch ID in the screen.
We can expect a smaller notch for the iPhone 13. In addition, there is talk of a refresh rate of the screen of 120 Hz, up to 1 terabyte of storage, a faster A15 chip and new camera sensors. We'll know more in less than a month!
The following is our original article from January 16, 2021.
Touch ID in the screen
As far as iPhones go, 2021 looks set to be an S year. The design of the devices will most likely remain the same, but Apple will put some new smarts in it. One of them may be Touch ID below the screen. Apple would like to introduce it in the iPhone 13 this year, so that you no longer have to play around with Face ID and face masks. Instead of scanning your face, place your finger on the screen. The only drawback is that it doesn't work if you're wearing thick gloves (but then typing your PIN won't work either).
Apple first got rid of the finger scanner in 2017 with the arrival of the iPhone X. Yet Touch ID has never been definitively put aside. It can still be found in the iPhone SE 2020 and in most iPads. With the iPhones, Apple has gradually switched to Face ID, but as a contemporary mouth mask user you run into problems. If you enter a store to pick up a package, it is best to unlock your device first and then put on your mouth cap and step inside. With Touch ID that would be a lot easier. The iPad Air 2020 already has one in the power button, but with the iPhone, Apple is planning to build it under the screen.
Internally, it is seen as a minor innovation, Bloomberg reports. Apple's engineers see this year as an S year, with minor improvements. A new design was introduced in 2020 and 5G was introduced in all new models. For many people, however, a finger scanner below the screen will be a welcome addition.
Qualcomm has already built finger sensors that can be placed under the screen. Earlier this month, they announced a new version that runs even faster. Maybe Apple will take advantage of that. Ming-Chi Kuo already predicted in 2019 that we will get a combination of Face ID and Touch ID in the 2021 iPhones.
Further changes in the iPhone 13 series? Apple would like to remove the Lightning port, so that from now on you can only charge wirelessly. You then have the choice of a MagSafe Charger (€45) or a Qi-enabled charger.
Bloomberg also claims that Apple is working on a foldable iPhone, which, however, could be years away.
Revision history:
- 2021 – August 22, 16:17: Bloomberg now thinks the iPhone 13 won't get Touch ID after all. But Apple has tested it.