As we reach the halfway point between iPhone generations (assuming the next model drops in the traditional September slot), the rumour mill is working overtime to churn out all manner of rumours and leaks. Indeed, we've heard tons of tantalising tidbits about the so-called iPhone 13, and if the latest is to be believed, it could ship with one of the most requested features of the year.
It is apparently "likely" that the iPhone 13 will include Touch ID, which of course lets users unlock the phone using their fingerprint. As many users have discovered the hard way over the last 12 months, Face ID just doesn't cut it in a world of face masks – and what use is one of the best camera phones if you can't easily unlock it?
A recent render of the upcoming iPhone 13 (Image credit: the Hacker 34 on YouTube)
According to a new investor note, as spotted by 9to5Mac, the iPhone 13 is likely to feature Touch ID under the display. First launched with 2013's iPhone 5S, Touch ID was removed in favour of Face ID for 2017's iPhone X. But the company probably wasn't banking on us all wearing face coverings three years later, judging by the makeshift workarounds it's had to implement to make Face ID actually, you know, work.
Yep, many an iPhone user has been crying out for Touch ID to return since the pandemic began, and it seems Apple might be about to heed their calls. The tech has already made a comeback with the iPad Air 4 last year, so it's unsurprising to hear it might extend to the iPhone line up again soon.
Face ID: a brilliant invention until 2020 (Image credit: Apple)
The obvious benefit of an under-screen fingerprint scanner is that it doesn't require bezels or a button, meaning Apple could stick to its current all-screen design. According to 9to5Mac, the investor note calls it the "security feature of the future," and claims it is likely to be featured in iPhones shipping in the second half of 2021.
Add this to the many iPhone 13 leaks we've heard over the past few months, and this year's upgrade is looking pretty exciting indeed. But if you can't wait until September, the iPhone 12 is still an incredibly solid option – check out today's best deals below, and be sure to visit our Apple deals page for more brilliant offers.
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Daniel John is Senior News Editor at Creative Bloq. He reports on the worlds of art, design, branding and lifestyle tech (which often translates to tech made by Apple). He joined in 2020 after working in copywriting and digital marketing with brands including ITV, NBC, Channel 4 and more.
