Apple’s Next iPhone Will Lack This Crucial Feature

Apple’s iPhone 14 will lack a crucial feature that many Apple fans have been waiting for, according to new reports. 

There’s a feature I have been wanting to come back to Apple’s premium iPhones for a while—and it looks like this year I’ll be disappointed, again. If you haven’t guessed what that feature is, it’s Touch ID.

Yes, it’s available on iPads and the iPhone SE models, but I’d been hoping to see Touch ID in addition to Face ID on the iPhone 13 last year. Now, it seems Touch ID won’t return on the iPhone 14 either.

Ming-Chi Kuo—an analyst whose Apple predictions are usually very accurate—says Touch ID could return as an under-display feature, but it probably won’t arrive until 2023.

This is backed by another report in Cult of Mac which detailed comments by display expert Ross Young stating that Touch ID won’t be back this year.

Over the past couple years, it seemed Apple was working on bringing Touch ID back. The iPhone maker had been working on an under screen version of the fingerprint identification, prominent Apple leakers said. I can’t understand why Apple hasn’t brought it in yet, especially since it’s available on most Android phones. 

Other rumors pointed to Apple introducing Touch ID via the power button.

Part of the reason Touch ID would be great is masks—it’s not easy to use Apple Pay on your iPhone when out and about and wearing one, especially if you’re not wearing your Apple Watch. Yes Face ID will soon recognize people wearing a mask, but Touch ID adds that extra convenience. 

Sunglasses are another thing that stop Face ID from working on the iPhone. But with Touch ID, all you have to do is put your thumb on your iPhone. 

Granted, Apple didn’t know the pandemic would happen, and the iPhone maker’s features usually take one and a half to two years to make it to actual devices. But while the pandemic fuelled the desire for Touch ID, many Apple fans want the feature back anyway.