Samuel Axon
This weekend, business publication Bloomberg presented a plethora of articles sharing details about various upcoming Apple products. We previously discussed what Bloomberg’s sources said about the Mac series, but another report contains details on future iPhones.
According to “someone familiar with” Apple’s work, the 2021 iPhone will be a small, recurring update and may bear the ‘S’ label, which Apple used in the past to indicate minor upgrades to the iPhone ( for example iPhone 6S or iPhone XS). This is partly because the iPhone 12 series launched last fall was heavily loaded with new features and design changes, but it was also because the COVID-19 restrictions slowed down Apple’s engineers, according to the report.
Although the iPhone 13 would not have a radically new design, the report describes a possible notice that Apple is testing internally: the addition of a fingerprint reader on the screen.
In 2017, Apple introduced Face ID, a face recognition authentication alternative for the fingerprint reader technology (Touch ID) it used in previous iPhones. The first generation Face ID was a bit slower and less consistent than Touch ID, but subsequent updates brought it up to standard, and most users accepted or appreciated the new method.
However, some people still prefer to unlock their phones with a fingerprint, and the need to wear masks during the pandemic has made reporting via face recognition much less attractive, although Apple has released a small update for iPhones to ease the process of bypass Face ID if you’re a little snapper with a mask. Some competing Android phones already offer fingerprint readers on the screen.
This change would announce the return of Touch ID to flagship iPhones. In the current range, it is only available in the cheap iPhone SE model. Touch ID itself was introduced in an S update: the iPhone 5S was the first to include the technology. And just like Face ID, it’s necessary to improve Touch ID’s efficiency after it’s first introduced.
Stay true to TrueDepth
Apple does not intend to set up the TrueDepth sensor setup that facilitates Face ID, even if it sets the Touch ID on the screen. This is because the array also helps with important photography and augmented reality features.
According to Bloomberg’s sources, Apple is discussing the removal of the iPhone’s physical charging port, as iPhones launched MagSafe wireless chargers last year. But just because the company discusses it as a possibility, does not mean it is a sure thing.
The report also claims that Apple is actively testing the folding of iPhone designs, although it is not certain that it will hit the market. If that does happen, it’s likely to be a few years in the future. Do not be surprised that Apple is at least testing foldable; the Android market for smartphones has seen some foldable phones, but we have usually found that they are compromised or have bad user experiences. Just like with the removal of the charging port, the fact that Apple is testing this feature does not mean that it will actually happen.
Finally, the report claims that Apple is finally going to release AirTags, the competitive tile competitor of augmented reality. Bloomberg says the product was the only one Apple wanted to ship by the end of 2020, which did not get it out the door.