Kuo: 2022 iPhones could get in-display Touch ID and drop the 5.4-inch mini

iPhone XR held in hand alongside river
iPhone XR held in hand alongside river (Image credit: iMore)

What you need to know

  • A new Ming-Chi Kuo report says Apple's 2022 iPhones could see the return of Touch ID, this time built into the display.
  • 2022 will reportedly see the end of the 5.4-inch iPhone.

Apple's 2022 iPhone lineup will be a big departure from the 2020 and 2021 offerings, according to the often reliable Ming-Chi Kuo. In a new research note seen by iMore, Kuo says there is still the possibility that next year's devices will usher in the return of Touch ID, but inside the display rather than the traditional Home button. We won't see it be part of the side button like the current iPad Air, either.

In terms of the Touch ID sensor, Kuo says that Apple will use its own technology rather than license someone else's. Putting Touch ID into the display is something we've heard rumors of Apple working on for years, so this makes plenty of sense.

Things get even more interesting when discussing the lineup as a whole, too. Kuo's research note again says that the much-maligned iPhone mini will not be replaced next year, meaning this year's rumored iPhone 13 mini will be the last 5.4-inch model. Instead, we will see two 6.1-inch iPhones and two 6.7-inch models, something that Kuo says will mean the "lowest price ever for a large (6.7″) iPhone." A price of around $900 is expected, he goes on to mention.

If all this pans out, I expect the 2022 lineup to include:

  • 6.1-inch iPhone 14
  • 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max/Plus
  • 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro
  • 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max

We still have some time to wait before we see iPhone 13 announced, but I'm already eager to see what iPhone 14 has to offer. The return of Touch ID is something we're all eager for.

For now, the excellent iPhone 12 Pro Max is still the best iPhone money can buy, of course.

Oliver Haslam
Contributor

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too. Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.