iPhone 12 features: Under-display Touch ID potentially confirmed in a patent granted to Apple

One of the recurring rumors about the upcoming iPhone 12 series is the return of the Touch ID through an under-display component. Tech fans cannot expect Apple to address it before the devices’ unveiling, but a patent granted to the company might have already made the confirmation.

iPhone 12 specs rumors: Another clue possibly points to Touch ID’s return

When Apple adopted the edge-to-edge screen design starting in the iPhone X, it required them to remove the physical home button as well. Some might have thought that the Touch ID is unlikely coming back to the iPhone lineup as Face ID became the biometric authentication system on newer devices.

However, a patent granted to Apple along with several speculations has been suggesting one cool way for Touch ID to return on iPhone 12. Several Android-powered smartphones have already utilized an in-display fingerprint scanner system, and Apple is now expected to do the same.

Some fans further speculate that Apple could be planning to have both the Face ID and the Touch ID on iPhone 12. It does not seem far-fetched, but it might drive up the price of the upcoming smartphones too much. However, the said patent appears to be describing just that. Part of the document describes the patent as: “An electronic device may include a dielectric cover layer defining a finger sensing surface and at least one optical image sensor below the dielectric cover layer.”

Interestingly, there are also speculations that Apple might ditch the Face ID for the Touch ID upon launching iPhone 12. This seems unlikely, though, because taking away Face ID would also mean removing Animoji and Memoji. And these have become some of the fan-favorite features since iPhone X.

iPhone 12 release date, price

Most of the rumors on iPhone 12’s specs and features sound plausible, but it is still best to take them with a grain of salt until Apple makes the official announcements. Apple will most likely keep its September unveiling event in 2020, where the iPhone 12 series could be launched.

With the possible addition of an improved Touch ID and another widely reported 5G support, it only fits to expect that iPhone 12 would cost more than its predecessors. A recent report, however, claimed that Apple is making efforts not to drive up the prices of the upcoming smartphones and keep the hikes around $100 only.