Apple's next iPhone to include updated Touch ID sensor for safer, superior Apple Pay experience
The Touch ID fingerprint sensor will get an upgrade this year with Apple's next-generation iPhone, according to well-connected insider Ming-Chi Kuo, who said on Tuesday that the new model will improve the Apple Pay experience with fewer reading errors.
Kuo, an analyst with KGI Securities, projects that Touch ID module shipments will grow 12.4 percent this year to 262 million total. His forecast was revealed in a research note to investors, a copy of which was obtained by AppleInsider on Tuesday.
According to Kuo, the upgraded Touch ID module will "offer a better and safer Apple Pay user experience by reducing reading errors." He expects companies in Apple's supply chain to begin ramping up for the new Touch ID module in the second quarter of calendar 2015.
Touch ID will remain in the home button on those devices for now, Kuo said, as he doesn't expect the fingerprint scanning technology to be integrated into touch panels in the near term.
"Though Apple has filed patents for the integration of Touch ID and touch panel, this isn't likely to bear fruit near term as complex algorithms and sapphire cover lens are also required," he said. "We therefore don't see any impact on supply chain momentum."
Just last week, Apple filed a new patent application describing how future iPhones and iPads could move Apple's Touch ID fingerprint sensor from the device's home button to the display itself. Doing so could allow new ways to authenticate a user, including a full palm-print scan to log in.
Touch ID was first introduced in the iPhone 5s in 2013. Last year, Apple expanded its role beyond unlocking to support its new Apple Pay digital wallet service.
With the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, users securely scan their fingerprint to authorize Apple Pay tap-to-pay transactions. In-app purchases with Apple Pay are also available on the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, as well as the latest iPhones.
Kuo has a respectable track record with regard to predicting Apple's future product plans and supply chain information. While he frequently gives accurate details on future hardware, he has, however, missed the mark on the timing of certain product launches.
Kuo, an analyst with KGI Securities, projects that Touch ID module shipments will grow 12.4 percent this year to 262 million total. His forecast was revealed in a research note to investors, a copy of which was obtained by AppleInsider on Tuesday.
According to Kuo, the upgraded Touch ID module will "offer a better and safer Apple Pay user experience by reducing reading errors." He expects companies in Apple's supply chain to begin ramping up for the new Touch ID module in the second quarter of calendar 2015.
Touch ID will remain in the home button on those devices for now, Kuo said, as he doesn't expect the fingerprint scanning technology to be integrated into touch panels in the near term.
"Though Apple has filed patents for the integration of Touch ID and touch panel, this isn't likely to bear fruit near term as complex algorithms and sapphire cover lens are also required," he said. "We therefore don't see any impact on supply chain momentum."
Just last week, Apple filed a new patent application describing how future iPhones and iPads could move Apple's Touch ID fingerprint sensor from the device's home button to the display itself. Doing so could allow new ways to authenticate a user, including a full palm-print scan to log in.
Touch ID was first introduced in the iPhone 5s in 2013. Last year, Apple expanded its role beyond unlocking to support its new Apple Pay digital wallet service.
With the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, users securely scan their fingerprint to authorize Apple Pay tap-to-pay transactions. In-app purchases with Apple Pay are also available on the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3, as well as the latest iPhones.
Kuo has a respectable track record with regard to predicting Apple's future product plans and supply chain information. While he frequently gives accurate details on future hardware, he has, however, missed the mark on the timing of certain product launches.
Comments
The next iPhone will be better.
The next Touch ID will be better.
The next version of iOS will be better.
The A9 will be faster.
Ooo. The suspense of it.
Duh. Duh. And more Duh.
Touch ID works great although it could be too good as it unlocks before I have a chance to look at the notifications on the lock screen.
AppleInsider: please get your definition of INSIDER correct. Ming is NOT an insider.
Everyone else please keep in mind Ming's prediction for 2014
This "analyst" is wrong, and I do not agree with their predictions.
The next iPhone will feature a Touch ID sensor that is slighly less accurate than today. Today's sensor just works too well, so in order to give the competition a fair shot, and to level the playing field, Apple will deliberately lower the resolution of the sensor.
The next iPhone will also feature a less powerful CPU, it will be called the A9 minus, because Apple is already so far ahead of all other CPUs found on other phones.
This whole "Retina" fad will finally be coming to an end, and the next iPhone will feature a vintage, heavy pixelated display that resembles video games from the 80s.
These "analysts" have no clue at all, and who cares if they're correct about two things, when they've pulled ten things out of their butt and they were wrong about eight. Even a blind squirrel will ocassionally find a nut.
I suppose the bad guys could just hack off your arm ;-)
Of course, your kids could add sleeping pills to your nightly glass of Scotch, strap on your watch, and use your fingerprints to authorize it, and then go out on the town. Or, for the younger crowd, after you pass out at that house party, and a total stranger does it. Or someone slips something in your drink at a bar. Suddenly that four digit pass code sounds like a much better idea.
Wait so Kuo is telling us the next iPhone will have improvements over the current iPhone? Shocked.
Touch ID works great although it could be too good as it unlocks before I have a chance to look at the notifications on the lock screen.
Well..like Steve said: "don't hold it like that." :-)
Just kidding- looking forward to it.
Stop calling him an insider. Kuo is not an Apple employee, contractor or board member.
He may be an analyst with a slightly better track record in rumor prediction than his peers, but by no means is there any proof that Kuo is an insider or has access to reliable inside information.
The only issue I've ever had with TouchID as it stands today is if my finger is wet, or there is a droplet on the sensor. Wipe both off and try again, problem solved.
Why wouldn't it? Secure on line transactions are a beautiful thing.
Other than trouble reading my fingerprint when the home button is a little greasy, it works very well. Faster would be nice.
Interestingly the successful reading percentage has dropped considerably this winter. I live in a cold climate which results in dry and often cold fingers. Perhaps I need to seasonally re-configure the reader. Or just set up a less used / affected finger.
And yes - faster would definitely be an improvement.
Yes. This.
This statement makes no sense. I'd like to unlock the Mac with Touch ID. I'd like to download from the Mac App Store/iTunes with Touch ID. I'd like to make secure payments with Touch ID.
Uh....no. Touch ID on a laptop doesn't provide better user experience.
Uh...yes. It would. Faster secure log in. Faster secure transactions...explain your point.
Why wouldn't it? Secure on line transactions are a beautiful thing.
That and using Touch ID to secure certain folders/files would be very cool security feature on Macs.