Apple removed Touch ID fingerprint authentication in favor of Face ID 3D facial recognition technology on iPhone X back in 2017, and it didn’t make a come back in last year’s iPhone XS series. Now, according to a new note from Apple analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple will introduce an iPhone equipped with both Face ID and in-screen fingerprint sensor in 2021.
It is said to use Qualcomm’s ultrasonic fingerprint scanner with large fingerprint sensing area that is being used in most smartphones. He added that technical issues of in-display fingerprint sensors will improve in 12 to 18 months, including module thickness, sensing area, power consumption, and lamination yield rate.
Recently rumors revealed that Apple will bring 5G support to all the iPhone models next year, and two of those iPhones are expected to feature time-of-flight sensors.
Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple analyst said:
In terms of technology, we predict that four critical technical issues of FOD will significantly improve in 12–18 months, including module thickness, sensing area, power consumption, and lamination yield rate. Therefore, we believe that Apple will launch the new iPhone equipped with both Face ID and FOD to enhance security and convenience thanks to the multi-biometrics.