Patent reveals tech that would combine both features

Dec 18, 2018 09:45 GMT  ·  By

Apple may have given up on Touch ID on modern iPhones, but this doesn’t necessarily mean the company still doesn’t want to launch devices that come with fingerprint sensors.

And a recently-discovered patent indicates that Apple is still exploring ways to bring both Face ID and Touch ID to future iPhones.

Basically, Apple describes a technology that would work similarly to the one already available on smartphones like the Huawei Mate 20 Pro and which offers both facial recognition and fingerprint scanning on the same device.

While specifics on how the two systems would be implemented are missing from the patent, Apple explains that it would stick with 3D sensing cameras for Face ID, emphasizing that downgrading the system to 2D face recognition compromises accuracy and security.

Face ID prioritized

Apple says that if both authentication systems would be implemented, Face ID would be prioritized when unlocking the phone, whereas Touch ID would be required only when the facial recognition scanning fails. Eventually, users would be prompted to enter their passcodes if Touch ID fails too.

Huawei uses a slightly different system and allows users to enable whatever feature they want if both are enabled. Furthermore, if the fingerprint scanning is used to unlock the device, the facial recognition system no longer wakes up to scan the face of the user.

Apple doesn’t share any specifics on the fingerprint reader, but it’s obviously expected to be embedded into the screen given the trend for increased screen estate and smaller bezels. Huawei does this too, as the fingerprint sensor on the Mate 20 Pro is integrated into the glass.

As with everything patent, there’s no confirmation such an idea would ever reach mass production, but at least, it’s an indication that the company is looking into fingerprint scanning for the future. It remains to be seen if it ever returns to iPhones.