New rumors seem to confirm that next year’s iPhones will feature under-display scanners.
As previously suggested, Apple has been working on new technology designed to bring back Touch ID to sit as an additional layer of security on top of Face ID, creating the world’s most secure smartphone set-up and offering users more choice over authenticating their devices.
According to new reports from the Economic Daily News, Apple has asked a representative to meet with GIS, a Taiwanese touchscreen manufacturer, to discuss the new iPhone with an under-the-display fingerprint scanner, set to launch as soon as next year for 2020.
The reports suggest that Apple will use Qualcomm’s ultrasonic fingerprint sensor tech in at least one of its new iPhone models for 2020, though this could be pushed back until 2021 if the company cannot get the necessary infrastructure in place to make it a reality before then.
GIS would reportedly work with Qualcomm to manufacture any necessary parts.
This latest rumor corresponds to previous reports from Barclays, Bloomberg, and popular Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who have all suggested the tech was being worked on.
Across the industry, there are two under-display fingerprint sensors currently in operation; an optical version and an ultrasonic version.
The former uses light from the display of the phone to create a 2D image of the fingerprint, whilst the latter uses high-frequency sound to create a 3D image of the fingerprint, offering a more secure form of identification.
Qualcomm already manufactures ultrasonic fingerprint sensors for the latest Samsung Galaxy S10 and Note10 smartphones, though Apple reportedly wants to use an even more advanced version of the technology when it includes it in its iPhones from 2020 or 2021.
Apple reportedly wants the fingerprint scanner to work across the entirety of the display, rather than just in one corner or on the bottom of the device akin to a Touch ID home button.
Are you looking forward to next year’s iPhone? Do you see the benefit of bringing back Touch ID?
Let us know your thoughts on Twitter and check back soon for iPhone rumors.
