Kuo: iPhone mini to get one more shot, will be ditched for larger non-Pro iPhone Max model in 2022, Touch ID to wait till 2022

Apple analyst Ming-Chi has built a justifiably excellent reputation as a leaker of Apple’s forthcoming plans and he is back at it again with details about Apple’s iPhone plans for 2022. Although not super detailed on this occasion (courtesy of Macrumors), Kuo does reveal that Apple looks set to scrap the 5.4-inch iPhone mini after one last shot with the iPhone 13 (or 12s) launching in September this year. Kuo had previously indicated this would be the case and continues to stick with this view, despite the lackluster sales of the smallest premium iPhone Apple offers.

Although it is possible Apple could resurrect the iPhone mini design for a future iPhone SE model, the iPhone 13 mini would have to have a spectacular sales rebound to see life beyond the next-generation iPhone line. Apple had high hopes for the 5.4-inch model, thinking there was nascent demand for a premium compact iPhone, but it is possible early reviews of the device killed off buyer interest after its battery life was panned. Apple is likely to address this concern with the next, and likely, final model given it was committed to its production at least 12 months ago.

According to Kuo, the 2022 iPhone range will still feature four new iPhone models, but instead of an iPhone mini, Apple will introduce a non-Pro iPhone Max with a 6.7-inch display. That would mean an iPhone 14 with both 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays aligning with the iPhone 14 Pro range, also with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays. It is likely Apple will differentiate between the panels with higher refresh rates and display brightness destined for the Pro models only.

We had heard rumors that Apple was planning on reintroducing Touch ID to the iPhone lineup and that this could happen as soon as this year. Kuo, however, believes that an under-display Touch ID system won’t arrive until the 2022 model year. This wouldn’t necessarily replace Face ID, but would be used to supplement it. Face ID can be fast, but it doesn’t always work in all situations particularly well and offering Touch ID in addition could boost the overall user experience. It could also be making a return to get users ready should Apple decide to drop Face ID for a notch-less, full-screen, iPhone design in the future.

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