Apple nixes plans to incorporate under-glass Touch ID in 'iPhone 8,' insider says
Apple has decided not to incorporate an embedded Touch ID solution for its forthcoming “iPhone 8” handset, according to well-connected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, leaving the door open for competitor Samsung to debut similar technology in next year’s Galaxy Note 9.
In a note to investors obtained by AppleInsider, Kuo says Apple has “cancelled” plans to embed a fingerprint recognition solution in the next-generation flagship iPhone. The analyst left embedded Touch ID off a list of standout “iPhone 8” features published in July, but did not indicate that Apple had abandoned the initiative altogether. According to Kuo, the decision is now final.
Embedded Touch ID was one of the most hotly anticipated features for inclusion in this year’s OLED iPhone release, with Kuo himself first hinting at its debut in January. Specifically, the analyst said Apple would swap out capacitive sensing technology in favor of an optical solution capable of accepting readings through OLED panel stacks. These under panel systems remove the need for a dedicated physical home button, allowing for full-face displays.
The prediction contradicts reports in June that claimed Apple was still working on under-screen Touch ID systems, but was undecided as to which technology to leverage in its deployment. At the time, Cowen and Company’s Timothy Arcuri said the company was developing three potential options, including thinning the cover glass over the fingerprint sensor area, creating a pinhole through the glass for a smaller sensor or attempting to overlay a thin film sensor directly onto the display.
In today’s note, Kuo notes Apple’s decision gives segment competitor Samsung some breathing room for 2018. Without an embedded fingerprint system in iPhone, the Korean company will be able to once again turn to a rear-mounted fingerprint reader in a next-generation “Galaxy S9” smartphone. This will allow Samsung to concentrate on further developing iris recognition technology and dual-camera functions.
Kuo predicts Samsung to ultimately incorporate an under-screen optical fingerprint solution with the “Galaxy Note 9,” a phablet device expected to debut a few months after the Galaxy S9 and before the 2018 iPhone. The Korean tech giant will potentially tap Egis for both S9 and Note 9 fingerprint components, replacing current supplier Synaptics, Kuo says.