Oh Touch ID, you blew everybody’s minds back in 2013 but you were replaced only 4 years later – 2017 was that fateful year. The iPhone X came out with Face ID and all of a sudden… you were lame. At least that’s what 90% of us thought, some Apple fans are still holding out hope; now those hopes have been dashed by the dream killer himself, Mark Gurman.
In the most recent Power On newsletter, Gurman gives us a peak into some of Apple’s considerations around the possibilities of Touch ID returning to iPhone:
Over the past few years, there have been discussions within Apple about bringing Touch ID back to high-end iPhones. The company has tested in-screen Touch ID and even contemplated putting it on the power button. At this point, I believe Face ID is here to stay and Touch ID won’t be returning to flagship iPhones—at least anytime in the foreseeable future.
Mark Gurman
Mark tells us that Apple has actually tested a return of Touch ID as an in-display feature, and that’s crazy. Especially considering Touch ID is still alive an well on iPad Air and iPad mini, and Mark talks about that implementation as an option for iPhone as well:
However, here is one possibility I can imagine: Touch ID moves to the power button on a low-end iPhone, like a future SE, to match the Face ID and Touch ID split between Pro and non-Pro iPads. But I haven’t heard anything about that actually being in the pipeline.
Mark Gurman
This is definitely some analytical speculation on his part, but it does still beg the question: what would Touch ID look like on an iPhone nowadays? If Apple implemented it on a low-end iPhone like Mark suggests, would that free up space in the notch – excuse me, DyNaMiC iSlaNd? Hard to say, and even harder to say if bringing Touch ID back would even be worth Apple’s time.
Face ID has continuously improved in both accuracy and flexibility, with the ability to use Face ID with masks. Apple has also been going down the path of streamlining iPhone internals as well – killing the headphone jack, SIM tray and maybe even hardware buttons all together.
All in all what do you guys think? I don’t care, personally. Touch ID was cool and all, but just like Face ID the feature had its problems. I’m just happy we have Touch ID where it really matters – Mac. That sh*t is insanely useful, literal game changer.
