Apple display in-screen fingerprint sensor test for iPhone 13, foldable iPhone also in preparation

Apple has started “early work” on an iPhone with a foldable display, according to a new report from BloombergIt’s Mark Gurman. Although testing for a foldable ‌iPhone‌ has begun, Apple has not made a commitment to release a device with a foldable display.

Development has yet to expand beyond a display, and Apple doesn’t have fully-foldable iPhone prototypes in its labs. Like foldable smartphones from other companies, a foldable ‌iPhone‌ would allow Apple to create a larger screen in a package that can still be pocketed.

Apple has discussed several foldable screen sizes, including one that unfolds to a size similar to the 6.7-inch screen on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Apple’s designs are said to have an “almost invisible hinge” with the electronics located behind the screen rather than two panels separated by a visible hinge.

Bloomberg suggests that a foldable ‌iPhone‌ is probably “years away” or “might never be introduced”, with Apple primarily focusing on updates to its flagship iPhones and iPads coming in 2021.

The iPhone 13 models slated for this year are unlikely to feature any major design changes, as the 2020 ‌iPhone‌ models marked a major technological and design overhaul. Apple engineers would consider the 2021 iPhones to be an “S” version of the 2020 models. In the past, Apple has used the “S” nomenclature in years when the ‌iPhone‌ models featured more minor updates.

While the design changes are expected to be minor, Apple is testing an in-display Touch ID fingerprint reader that would mark a major change in the biometric systems Apple has used for flagship devices since the launch of the iPhone. X.

The fingerprint sensor would be made available in addition to Face ID and would come in handy for iPhone users who cannot unlock their iPhones with facial recognition when using masks.

Apple has also considered removing the charging port from some iPhone models in favor of wireless charging, which appears to be still on the table for 2021 iPhones at this time.

BloombergToday’s report also confirms AirTags are slated to launch in 2021 and reiterates iPad Pro rumors that suggest Apple is working on an updated version with a mini-LED display and a faster processor. .