According to a new report from Bloomberg, Apple’s next-gen iPhone 13 may have an in-screen fingerprint sensor. Nothing is predetermined at this point, but the report says the feature will coexist with Face ID rather than replace it. It is reported that Apple has been developing in-screen fingerprint technology for years, so this rumor is certainly more validated than most others.
The return of Touch ID to the iPhone will surely be cause for joy for some. While Face ID’s speed and reliability have undoubtedly improved over the past few years, Touch ID offers some advantages that Face ID can’t match. Not only can the Touch ID unlocking process start right after we touch the device, but the mask-filled world we live in due to the coronavirus has also made Face ID cumbersome.
Apple is usually considering many new features for next-generation iPhones, meaning there is no guarantee that an in-screen fingerprint reader will actually ship with iPhone 13. Recall, several credible reports indicate that Apple included a 120Hz ProMotion display on last year’s models. iPhone 12 Pro, a feature that ultimately didn’t make it to production.
Another iPhone 13 rumor from Bloomberg reports that Apple is considering removing the charging port in favor of purely wireless charging. While the iPhone can certainly move in that direction, it’s hard to imagine Apple ditching the charging port later this year. Other posts said the iPhone 13 would have a more powerful ultra-wide-angle camera lens. And while we can see many software camera improvements in Apple’s 2021 iPhone lineup, more significant hardware improvements are reportedly planned for Apple’s 2022 iPhone lineup.
Finally, we’ve seen credible reports that the 2021 Apple iPhone lineup will launch this September. Given the October and November releases of Apple’s iPhone 12 models, there has been some speculation that Apple could permanently change the iPhone release schedule, similar to what it did after the delayed iPhone 4S release in October 2011. Before the iPhone 4S, every new iPhone was released in either June or July.