Display industry specialist Ross Young reported earlier this week that iPhone 14 Pro models will have both hole-punch and pill-shaped cuts to replace the notch. If this design is correct, Face ID will not be available under the display this year.
In light of this recent rumour, we’ve compiled a list of everything we’ve heard about Face ID and Touch ID on future iPhones.
Face ID Under the Display
Young claims that the infrared camera incorporated into the iPhone for Face ID will not be relocated under the display until at least 2023 or 2024, implying that Face ID will not be fully integrated under the display until at least the iPhone 15 Pro next year.
Ming-Chi Kuo, an often-accurate analyst, stated in an April 2021 research note that he expected Apple to use under-display Face ID for at least one new iPhone model debuting in 2023, although he did not disclose any other details at the time.
“We anticipate Apple will deploy a periscope telephoto lens and under-display Face ID in 2023,” Kuo wrote in a note to TF International Securities.
Touch ID Under the Display
According to The Wall Street Journal’s Joanna Stern and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple tried an under-screen fingerprint scanner for at least certain iPhone 13 models, but the company decided not to pursue the idea.
Kuo predicted in a September 2021 research note that Apple would release at least one new iPhone model with an under-screen fingerprint scanner in the second half of 2023, but he has not released any additional details since then.
“We anticipate that the upcoming 2H23 iPhone will feature under-display fingerprint,” Kuo said.
Touch ID in Power Button
Touch ID is built into the power button on the latest iPad Air and iPad mini models, however no iPhones have this capabilities yet.
Kuo projected in a December 2019 research note that Apple would produce a larger iPhone SE with a 5.5-inch or 6.1-inch display in the first half of 2021, with Touch ID integrated into the side power button. Apple has yet to deliver such a device, but speculations suggest that a larger iPhone SE is still planned for 2024, and it may include a Touch ID power button, as previously said.
Summary
According to the current rumours, at least one iPhone with under-screen Face ID and at least one iPhone with under-screen Touch ID will be introduced in 2023, however it is unclear whether Apple intends to offer an iPhone with both biometric authentication options.
A Touch ID power button on an iPhone is more of a wild card, but it could happen with a larger iPhone SE in 2024.