A new report from Bloomberg today sheds more light on what to expect this year’s update to the iPhone. The report says that Apple “isn’t planning major changes” for the 2021 iPhone, but one key upgrade is in testing: an in-screen fingerprint reader.
Internally, Bloomberg says that Apple engineers are referring to the 2021 iPhone as an “S” year upgrade, which implies minor upgrades compared to the iPhone 12.
The big change, however, is that Apple is testing support for an in-screen fingerprint reader for this year’s iPhone. It’s ultimately unclear whether this feature will make the cut for the iPhone 12S, but it is something in testing:
Apple isn’t planning major changes for this year’s iPhone line given the enhancements made to the smartphone in 2020, including 5G and new designs, according to people familiar with the situation. Inside Apple, engineers consider the next iPhones another “S” version of the device, the nomenclature typically given to new iPhones with minor upgrades.
This isn’t the first we’ve heard about Touch ID returning to the iPhone. Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported in August 2019 that it will release an iPhone with both Face ID and under-screen Touch ID in 2021. In addition, the reliable leaker L0vetodream has also reported that in-screen Touch ID will soon make its way to the iPhone.
Though overall changes will be minor, Apple is still testing a key upgrade for 2021: an in-screen fingerprint reader. This would add a new method for users to unlock their iPhone, going beyond a passcode and Face ID facial recognition. Apple started to move away from fingerprint sensors in 2017 with the launch of the iPhone X, but Touch ID has remained as a feature on Mac laptops and cheaper iPhones since then. Qualcomm Inc., which provides Apple with 5G modems, earlier this month announced a faster in-screen fingerprint sensor.
Finally, Bloomberg writes that Apple has “discussed removing the charging port for some iPhone models in favor of wireless charging.” Again, it’s unclear if this change will make its way to the iPhone 12S or if Apple will save it for a future model. It’s worth noting that Ming-Chi Kuo predicted in 2019 that Apple would launch an iPhone without a Lightning port in 2021.
The report also mentions that AirTags are still on track to be released sometime this year, with Apple having originally planned to launch them alongside the iPhone 12.
