Leaker claims under-screen Touch ID is coming to iPhone

Iphone Se 2020 Hero
Iphone Se 2020 Hero (Image credit: iMore)

What you need to know

  • Touch ID is said to be coming back to iPhone.
  • Leaker @L0vetodream shared the news via a cryptic tweet.
  • They say it will be under the screen, rather than part of the power button.

Apple has long been rumored to be working on some sort of under-display fingerprint scanning technology that would bring Touch ID back to iPhone. The recent announcement of the newly updated iPad Air 4, with Touch ID built into the power button, suggested that Apple might go the same route with iPhone. However, one leaker says that isn't the case.

Or, at least, that's what I think they say. Take a look at anonymous Twitter leaker @L0vetodream's tweet and see what you think.

https://twitter.com/L0vetodream/status/1316988346950823937?

The account is known for its cryptic messages and this one is no different. However, MESA is the codename for Touch ID inside Apple and "uts" is likely supposed to be "under the screen" and the rest is pretty obvious.

@L0vetodream has a pretty solid track record with previous leaks but, as ever, it's important to remember that plans change. Especially inside Apple and especially in 2020.

There's nothing to say when or which models, but with iPhone 13 a whole year away we're going to have to wait a little while regardless. I'd have loved to see Touch ID return in 2020 but, for now, I'll make do with magnets and new chargers.

The reason people want Touch ID back is pretty obvious. Face ID is a better solution during any other year, but with 2020 being the never-ending nightmare that it is, we're all (hopefully) wearing masks all the time and Face ID doesn't work for obvious reasons. Touch ID, however, works just fine. So long as you're using an old iPhone or iPhone SE.

Would you like to see the return of Touch ID?

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.