The iPhone 16e could be the end of Touch ID on the iPhone, but Apple could bring back the technology in a more modern way.
According to the latest report from analyst Ming-chi Kuo, Apple is preparing to launch its first foldable iPhone, expected to be called the iPhone Fold, with a design similar to Samsung's foldable phones. The device will have an extremely thin design, forcing Apple to abandon Face ID facial recognition technology and replace it with a Touch ID fingerprint sensor.
However, Touch ID on the iPhone Fold will be completely different from previous iPhone models, which Apple discontinued after the launch of the iPhone 16e. Instead, the company will integrate Touch ID into the power button, just like on the iPad and other foldable phones.
Although Touch ID can meet security needs, many people still feel the lack of Face ID. The 3D facial recognition system not only helps unlock the phone but also supports many other applications. After experiencing it for a while, many people really appreciate Face ID over Touch ID and always prioritize using facial recognition.
In terms of design, leaked information shows that the iPhone Fold will have a different aspect ratio compared to current foldable phone models. This phone will not be as tall as the Galaxy Z Fold, but will be wider when folded, creating the feeling of an iPad mini 7 when opened.
The question is why Apple didn't bring back the highly-rated Face ID? This may stem from the thickness of the device, as Mr. Kuo's report suggests, which makes it difficult to integrate Face ID. There have been many analysts who have said that the horizontal camera bar on the iPhone 17 Air may be related to the components of Face ID, and if the iPhone Fold is even thinner than the iPhone 17 Air, there really won't be room for facial recognition technology built into it.
In addition, finding a place to put Face ID is not simple. While the external display can allow unlocking the device and accessing applications, the internal display plays a good role in using secure applications. As a result, it would be more appropriate to bring unlocking and accessing secure applications to the same location via Touch ID integrated into the power button.