Apple has been testing Touch ID again for iPhones, but this doesn't necessarily mean they will return the feature. Face ID has been used since 2017 with the iPhone X, but there are rumors circulating about Apple returning the Touch ID. Despite those, nothing has actually been done about it.
There has been speculation that Apple may consider adding the Touch ID to the power button as they do in the iPad Air and iPad mini. The tech giant has also reportedly tested in-screen Touch ID, but as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman stated, it is still unlikely, according to 9To5Mac.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Face ID
With Apple's state-of-the-art TrueDepth camera, your phone can easily identify your face and unlock your phone for you. The feature uses a system with advanced technologies that accurately map the geometry of your face.
By holding up your phone to your face, you can authorize purchases from Apple stores like iTunes, App Store, Book Store, and Access to Apple Pay. Face ID can also work on select third-party apps and automatically authorizes and substitute Touch ID with Face ID.
The Face ID will automatically adapt to the changes in your looks, whether it is makeup or facial hair. The feature works even if you are wearing a hat, scarf, glasses, contact lenses, sunglasses, and even a face mask, according to Apple's official website.
The adaptive capabilities of the Face ID can also serve as a disadvantage as your Apple device might unlock your phone for someone who looks similar to you. Based on an article from TechCrunch, there are instances when a sibling with a very close resemblance to the user can open their phones.
There is a solution to avoid this. When someone who has the same features as you try to unlock your phone and does so unsuccessfully, don't enter your password just yet. This will train your Face ID to recognize someone else's face as yours, and they will be able to unlock your phone.
The Pros and Cons of Touch ID
Even if the Touch ID feature is not officially coming back to Apple devices, it might still serve you well someday to know the advantages and disadvantages.
One of the good things about Touch ID is that fingerprints are much harder to fake or trick than Face IDs. Since your fingerprint has minimal to no changes over time, your phone can retain your fingerprint for much longer.
Since fingerprints are non-transferable and incredibly unique, there is a much lesser chance that someone can access your device using their fingerprint as opposed to Face ID, which has a small chance of unlocking for someone who looks a lot like you.
The disadvantage to using the Touch ID, however, is that we use our hands so often that it might change the construct of our fingerprint. Someone who does manual work may develop callouses that may distort the previously recorded fingerprint, as mentioned in NEC.
