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Apple's much-anticipated iPhone Fold could skip Face ID and adopt a side-mounted Touch ID sensor, according to fresh leaks. The shift would be driven by both usability on folding screens and cost considerations — a notable detail as buyers brace for a rumored $2,399 price tag.
Why Apple might favor Touch ID on a foldable
Foldable phones bring a unique set of design challenges. Sources on social platform Weibo, including a leaker known as Momentary Digital, suggest Apple is weighing a side-mounted fingerprint sensor instead of the TrueDepth camera system used for Face ID. The rationale is pragmatic: a physical sensor can be easier to place and use on dual-panel devices, avoiding awkward angles and unreliable face recognition when the phone is partially folded.
There’s also a financial angle. Implementing Face ID across two screens or integrating a reliable under-display TrueDepth system would add complexity and cost. Replacing that with a tried-and-true side Touch ID module can lower component and engineering overhead — potentially helping Apple manage that high launch price, or at least control development risk.
What the rumor says about cameras and build
Beyond biometrics, the same tipster claims the iPhone Fold will forgo an under-display selfie camera. Instead, both the inner and outer displays are expected to use punch-hole cutouts, with the inner sensor centered and the external camera shifted slightly to the right on the main display. That’s a departure from Apple’s long-running notch or pill approach and hints at a move toward a more seamless screen aesthetic.
Apple is reportedly still testing Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) and struggling to eliminate the visible crease that plagues many foldable devices. That suggests the final design may iterate several times before launch — and explains why some earlier leaks described a thinner prototype with different camera placements.
Key rumored details at a glance
- Biometrics: side-mounted Touch ID instead of Face ID
- Selfie cameras: punch-hole cutouts on both inner and outer panels
- Under-display camera: reportedly not included
- Screen tech: UTG still under testing; crease removal remains a technical hurdle
- Possible launch timing: expected alongside next-generation iPhone lineup
What this could mean for users
Imagine unfolding a phone and unlocking it with your thumb — that ease-of-use could appeal to many, especially in real-world folding scenarios where Face ID might fail. On the other hand, Apple dropping Face ID would be a notable shift in its security and UX story, one that could divide opinion among fans who have come to expect facial authentication as standard.
Ultimately, these are still leaks. They paint a plausible picture: Apple pragmatically balancing design, usability, and cost as it enters the foldable market. Whether the final product ships with Touch ID, punch-hole cameras, or a crease-free UTG display depends on how those engineering challenges resolve over the coming months.
Source: wccftech
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