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A new report from Bloomberg sheds more light today on what to expect from the iPhone update this year. The report says Apple “doesn’t plan any major changes” for the 2021 iPhone, but a key upgrade is being tested: an in-display fingerprint reader.
Internally, Bloomberg says Apple engineers refer to the 2021 iPhone as an “S” year upgrade, which involves minor upgrades over the iPhone 12.
Apple doesn’t plan any major changes for this year’s iPhone lineup given the improvements to the smartphone in 2020, including 5G and new designs, according to people familiar with the situation. At Apple, engineers consider the next iPhones to be another “S” version of the device, the nomenclature typically given to new iPhones with minor upgrades.
The big change, however, is that Apple is testing support for an in-display fingerprint reader for this year’s iPhone. It’s ultimately unclear if this feature will make the cut for the iPhone 12S, but it’s something in testing:
While the overall changes are minor, Apple is still testing a key upgrade for 2021: an in-display 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 moving away from fingerprint sensors in 2017 with the launch of the iPhone X, but Touch ID has remained a feature on cheaper Mac laptops and iPhones since then. Qualcomm Inc., which supplies Apple with 5G modems, announced a faster integrated fingerprint sensor earlier this month.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of Touch ID’s return to the iPhone. Apple’s reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo announced in August 2019 that it will release an iPhone with Face ID and Touch ID under the display in 2021. In addition, reliable leaker L0vetodream also reported that the Touch In-screen ID will soon make its way to the iPhone.
Finally, Bloomberg writes that Apple has “discussed removing the charging port for some iPhone models in favor of wireless charging”. Again, it’s unclear whether this change will carry over to the iPhone 12S or whether Apple will keep it for a future model. It should be noted 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 for release this year, with Apple initially planning to launch them alongside the iPhone 12.
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