Apple deserves a lot of credit because its impressive core upgrades to the iPhone 11 (guide), iPhone 11 Pro (guide) and iPhone 11 Pro Max (guide) make them much better smartphones than their ageing designs suggest. But now we know Apple has something much more exciting lined up.
Last month, a major Bloomberg exclusive revealed Apple is bringing Touch ID back with the 2020 iPhone. Now Patently Apple has discovered how Apple plans to make this work, and it blows away anything we have seen before.
Breaking it down in new patents, Apple explains that its next-gen Touch ID sensor will sit under the display. But the big news is – unlike similar systems from rivals – the sensor area will fill a large section of the display (making it easy to hit) and read gestures. The latter part is fascinating because Face ID already requires a confirmatory swipe, so Apple could build dual biometric authentication into the new iPhone without users requiring another step. The result would be by far the most secure smartphone ever made.
Moreover, Apple hasn’t been subtle about its intentions. Before today, the company had already filed five in-display Touch ID patents since December (1,2,3,4,5) and this is the sixth. At this point, it’s an open secret.
Apple has also given away why it would require such game-changing security after it filed patents showing how iPhones could replace your passport. The integration of dual biometrics would enable the company to pull this off. After all, Samsung’s embarrassing Galaxy S10 fingerprint reader debacle this week would never have happened were there a second confirmatory biometric system.
And this is just the start. Acclaimed Apple-insider Ming Chi-Kuo has confirmed Apple will bring an “all-new form factor design” to the iPhone in 2020 as well as 5G for every model. Also making the cut are long-range 3D cameras, new screen sizes, 120Hz ProMotion displays and the long-awaited switch to USB-C.
So yes, Apple kept the iPhone ticking along in 2019. But in 2020 we’re set for a game-changer.