iPhone 13 release date, specs: Report doubles down on Touch ID's continued absence this year

The upcoming launch of the iPhone 13 series will mark the third year since Apple removed the Touch ID function to replace it with a facial recognition authentication system. While fans have been hoping to see it return in other forms, a new report has doubled down on previous claims that the Touch ID is not slated to come back in any iPhone model this year.

iPhone 13 specs, design

The removal of the physical home button to favor an edge-to-edge display does not mean Apple does not have other means to offer the Touch ID in newer iPhones. The company has integrated the fingerprint scanner in the power buttons of iPads that have a full-screen design. But smartphone fans are hoping that the Touch ID’s return in the iPhone line would be in the form of an in-display sensor.

Bloomberg reported that Apple has already been testing that solution for the iPhone 13 series, but it is not anticipated to become an official feature on any of the phone models entering the market in 2021. This lines up with an earlier report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicting that the Touch ID comeback may have to wait until 2022. However, Kuo does not expect the in-display Touch ID to be available on all iPhone 14 models, suggesting that it could be offered as one of the exclusive features in the high-end 6.7-inch device next year.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg also reiterated the expected smaller notch design in the iPhone 13 series and expects its size to further diminish next year. The report also noted that Apple is planning to “eventually remove the notch entirely” sometime in the future.

iPhone 13 release date

It also appears that Apple has huge expectations on the sales performance of the iPhone 13 series. Bloomberg reported that the tech giant has asked its suppliers to produce up to 90 million units of the upcoming smartphones — up from around 75 million in previous generations — to meet the expected demand through the end of the year.

While tech companies are still experiencing issues with parts supplies, the situation is expected to be more relaxed for Apple with regards to the launch of new iPhones this year. With that, the iPhone 13 announcement is expected to happen sometime in September.

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