Apple tested Touch ID on the iPhone 13 but has dropped it for the time being

Rumors of Apple developing and testing under-display fingerprint scanning technology date back to before the introduction of the iPhone X with Face ID. While Face ID helped to create a distinctive design element giving the iPhone X (and subsequent models) its iconic notch, it has also been controversial. More recently, the pandemic highlighted issues with having only Face ID for biometric authentication as it won’t work when people are wearing a protective face mask.

Whether it was the pandemic or other usability reasons, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported in his email newsletter that Apple has been testing under-display Touch ID on the iPhone 13/12S range due to be revealed next month. However, Gurman has heard that Apple has decided against including this feature in its next iPhone. No word, however, on whether Apple could introduce it in the 2022 model.

Apple most recently reintroduced Touch ID functionality on the all-new iPad Pad Air, although in this instance it has been integrated into the power button. While Apple has been able to by-pass Face ID authentication issues for Apple Watch owners wearing masks, it isn’t as ergonomic as Touch ID in some situations such as when using Apple Pay. Combining Face ID and Touch ID could work very well, although under-display Touch ID is an obvious solution to eliminating the iPhone notch altogether.

Buy the iPhone 12 mini unlocked from Amazon for US$729.