iPhone 13 will fix the worst thing about the iPhone 12 — here’s how

iPhone 13 volition fix the worst thing almost the iPhone 12 — here'south how

iPhone 13 could use an in-display version of Touch ID

(Prototype credit: Ben Geskin/Smazizg)

Bear upon ID could be making a comeback with the iPhone 13, helping tackle tricky biometrics in the age of COVID-19 and mask-wearing.

That's according to a written report past the Wall Street Journal, which claimed "2 onetime Apple tree employees" said Apple is considering giving its next iPhone both Face ID and Touch on ID. Such a change would mark a departure from the Face up ID-only iPhones that started with 2017's iPhone Ten and is a characteristic in the electric current iPhone 12 range.

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But this doesn't hateful a return to the thick lower display bezel where the fingerprint sensor used to live in handsets similar the iPhone 8. Instead, Apple volition reportedly switch to an in-screen fingerprint reader.

That's a feature that has been present on high-end Android devices for the concluding couple of years just has yet to appear on anything running iOS. Interestingly, Apple may non follow Samsung in using Qualcomm's super-fast ultrasonic fingerprint sensing technology seen on the Samsung Milky way S21.

While Qualcomm declined the WSJ'due south asking for comment, a former Apple tree employee said that the visitor had been working with optical sensors instead, due to their perceived reliability over ultrasonic tech. An Apple patent from last year outlined how an optical sensor could detect fingerprints placed anywhere on the screen.

The source did stress that whatsoever in-screen fingerprint sensor would have to match the security standards of Touch ID as it's implemented on the iPhone SE, certain iPads and select MacBooks.

The gist of the piece overall is that nigh of the new and exciting features of the iPhone 13 will already have been seen on Samsung's excellent Galaxy S21 range, including a 120Hz screen (probable to exist called "ProMotion" as it is on the iPad Pro) and perhaps an ultra-zoom photographic camera of some kind. Notwithstanding, the periscope zoom camera may not be bachelor for this year's iPhone 13.

While Apple tree might follow in Samsung'due south footsteps the higher up features would present a big suite of upgrades for the iPhone range. Given the iPhone 12 Pro Max is already our acme selection for the best phones yous can get right now, these rumored upgrades promise to evangelize some other stellar Apple tree smartphone.

Freelance correspondent Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the spider web and in the occasional magazine likewise. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. Or, more than likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth time.