How Apple may revamp Touch ID for future iPhone models – Times of India

Apple has reportedly won a patent for new under display technology that can capture biometric data with higher speed and accuracy by using optical fibres. As per a report by PatentlyApple, the tech giant has granted patents to a technology that can capture a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image of an object or user that is near the device. In some cases, the 2D or 3D image may include biometric data.
For those who don’t know, biometric data is the information that is related to features of your body. This data has to be unique and it can be your eyes, fingerprint, face and other features. One of the most common examples of biometric technology that most of us use daily is the smartphone’s fingerprint and facial recognition feature. These security features use your unique physical characteristics to verify your identity.
The techniques explained in the patent application use optical fibers or optical fiber bundles to emit or receive electromagnetic radiation through the display. It is worth noting that the technologies described in Apple patents do not always make it to the actual product and if the company is planning to revamp the Touch ID, it still may take a few months. This means that it is unlikely that we’ll see the Touch ID feature in the upcoming iPhones.
According to popular Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is unlikely to launch any iPhone model with the under-screen Touch ID feature in the next two years. In September last year, Kuo predicted that the company may release an iPhone model with new Touch-ID feature in late 2023 but his recent tweets counter that claim.
“I previously predicted iPhones would support under-display fingerprint sensing/Touch ID in 2023 at the earliest. But the latest survey indicates new iPhones in 2023 & 2024 may not adopt under-display Touch ID. Face ID with a mask on an iPhone is already a great biometrics solution.” Kuo said in the tweet.
To recall, Apple was widely reported to be testing under-display Touch ID for its current flagship iPhone 13 series. Reports from The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg claimed that the tech giant tested the feature in some iPhone 13 models.