Apple tests the under-screen fingerprint reader for the iPhone and could launch it in 2021. The information is from Bloomberg, which indicates that this technology would come in addition to the current Face ID, the face recognition system present in the company’s current devices. . A source close to Apple would still have said that the news is not guaranteed, as it should be part of the future smartphone only if the current tests are completed positively.
Like more rear-facing cameras, this would be another way for Apple to “catch up” to some technologies that have been applied for a while by competitors such as Samsung, Oppo, Huawei and Xiaomi. Not to mention that the US giant has lost some space in the industry to see its sales fall last year.
Kuo claims that many of these problems will have been overcome by 2021.
When Apple is likely to use an ultrasonic fingerprint detection solution similar to Qualcomm’s already used in devices like the Samsung Galaxy S10.
In addition to being used on the iPhone, Kuo also suggests that the technology could be more suitable for Apple Watch than Face ID, although Apple has no plans to incorporate it. Apple Watch currently does not include any form of biometric security and relies on a PIN code.
Potentially, unifying Touch ID and Face ID security systems gives the idea of some kind of two-factor biometric authentication, meaning that a potential hacker would have to mimic his or her face and fingerprint to gain access to the phone. Hackers were able to circumvent Touch ID within 24 hours of the original launch of the technology.
Apple introduced fingerprint recognition in iPhones in 2013 following the acquisition of AuthenTec, a pioneer in the segment. Integrated with the iPhone’s Home button, the Touch ID system was used to unlock the phone, approve payments, and authorize app downloads, giving Apple the technological advantage with speed and reliability.
Touch ID was replaced by face recognition sensors in 2017 with the launch of iPhone X. Promoted as Face ID, the face recognition tool once again put Apple ahead of the competition with a more robust and secure system than its rivals.
The next fingerprint reader would be embedded in the screen, allowing the user to scan their prints across a large portion of the display, and would work in conjunction with the existing Face ID system, people said familiar with Apple’s plans.
Apple spokesman Trudy Muller declined to comment.
Apple plans to include this touchscreen sensor in the iPhone 2020 model if the test is successful, people said. Vendors have proven the ability to integrate the technology into iPhones. But the company has not yet produced the phone with the tool on a large scale, said a person who follows the development.
Apple is also planning its first low-cost iPhone since the iPhone SE. The model could be launched as early as the first half of 2020, people said. The device would look similar to the iPhone 8 and would include a 4.7 inch screen. Currently, the iPhone 8 sells for $ 599.
The fingerprint reader under the smartphone screen is expected for some time. Manufacturers like Apple and Samsung have already obtained patents for this technology. However, the feature may take a while to arrive for releases of these brands.
Although not a well-known name in the West, China Vivo was named the fifth largest smartphone maker in the first quarter of 2017 according to IDC, a global body that offers market analysis. However, it is worth remembering that the company has no presence in Brazil and has no connection with the telephone company.
Bloomberg also reinforces rumors that a new cheaper iPhone would be on its way.
As we reported earlier, Apple is currently working on a lower-cost variant of the iPhone. Which could hit the market in the first half of 2020.
This device should be similar in design to the iPhone 8, including a 4.7-inch display and Touch ID on the front button of the device. In a way, this could be seen as a step backwards by the company. After all even input models from most manufacturers today offer fingerprint sensor under larger screens.
It is also worth remembering that Cupertino’s company stopped offering Touch ID with the launch of the iPhone XR and iPhone XS in 2018. The decision would be argued that the feature would be safer than the button for fingerprint reading.
