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iPhone 11 Release Date, Specs, Features: Is Touch ID Returning Through an In-Display Fingerprint Reader?

From the iPhone 6S trailer | Photo via LoveApple/YouTube

When Apple introduced the Face ID feature in 2017, most tech fans thought it also served as a permanent replacement for the Touch ID. But recent reports have it that the latter could make a comeback this year once iPhone 11 is announced.

The Cupertino, California-based tech giant jumped on the trend of thin bezel design in 2017 with the release of iPhone X. This also meant getting rid of the physical home button that was housing the Touch ID biometric scanner since it was introduced in 2013 on iPhone 5S. So it is quite intriguing to hear that Apple might have reconsidered bringing back the Touch ID through iPhone 11.

Of course, Apple will most likely keep the edge-to-edge display layout on the iPhone 11 — meaning there would still be no physical home button. So one plausible way to bring Touch ID back is through an in-display fingerprint reader.

One very telling evidence is a patent granted to Apple in late April describing the use of “acoustic imaging system” for a biometric sensor. The document suggests that Apple is not following the typical way of building in-display fingerprint readers allowing users to unlock the device by tapping anywhere on the screen. However, there is no assurance that this innovation will be available on the iPhone 11.

The patent was originally filed in 2016 that could suggest that the company has been developing this technology for some time. Though it could be ready for a public release in time for the announcement of iPhone 11, note that many patents granted to tech companies do not really make it into a finished product. So it is still best to view these speculations with a pinch of salt.

Apple declined to confirm nor deny speculations regarding Touch ID’s comeback on iPhone 11, per CNET’s report, something that is not surprising. This only means fans will have to wait until September to see whether this more advanced Touch ID setup will be featured in the upcoming smartphones this year.

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