According to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman and Debby Wu, Apple is developing in-screen fingerprint technology for its 2020 (or perhaps 2021) iPhones.
Quoting unnamed “people familiar with the plans,” the article says this would eliminate the need for additional bezels on the smartphone while retain biometric security. The Bloomberg report says that such iPhones would retain both Touch ID (in its new form) and Face ID.
The idea is that the fingerprint reader will be embedded in the iPhone display, so users could unlock the smartphone by pressing a finger almost anywhere on the screen. Gurman and Wu’s report matches that of analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has predicted an iPhone with both Face ID and in-display Touch ID in 2021.
Chances the rumor is true, according to the Sellers Research Group (that’s me): 99%. Gurman/Wu and Kuo have the best track records around in predicting future Apple products. Also, it makes sense that in-screen fingerprint tech will also come to future iPads.