• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechApple

Apple iPhone’s Face ID Could Kill Touch ID By Next Year

By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 13, 2017, 11:27 AM ET

Apple’s latest biometric security feature might find its way to every iPhone next year.

In a note to investors on Thursday, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple (AAPL) is planning to bring its Face ID facial scanner to every iPhone it releases next year. Additionally, Kuo, who has a good track record of predicting Apple’s next moves, said that Apple will remove the Touch ID fingerprint sensor in future iPhones and rely entirely on Face ID to verify a person’s identity and allow him or her access to the iPhone’s software.

Apple unveiled its new Face ID scanner last month at its iPhone press event. The feature uses a variety of technologies, including infrared and a camera, to scan a person’s face. If the person’s identity can be verified, he or she will be given access to iOS and make purchases via the company’s mobile-payment service Apple Pay.

In its discussion of the feature, Apple said that Face ID, which is available exclusively on the iPhone X this year, is far more secure than the company’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor. Apple has also promised improved responsiveness with Face ID.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter

Apple has offered its Touch ID fingerprint sensor since 2013, when the feature was offered in the iPhone 5s. Like Face ID, it’s been used to give users access to iOS and verify mobile purchases.

According to Kuo, whose note was earlier reported on by AppleInsider, Apple believes its Face ID is superior to competing face scanners and wants to use it as a “competitive advantage” in the smartphone market. Touch ID, it seems, doesn’t fit into that plan.

However, Kuo said in a note in September that while Apple was planning to bring Face ID to future iPhones, its decision to remove Touch ID would be predicated on consumer response to the Face ID scanner built into the iPhone X. If it doesn’t work well, in other words, Apple might decide to keep Touch ID.

Apple’s Face ID will be put to the test on Nov. 3, when the iPhone X is released. Apple likely won’t release a new slate of iPhones—which might or might not support Face ID—for another year.

About the Author
By Don Reisinger
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Big TechSpotify
Spotify users lamented Wrapped in 2024. This year, the company brought back an old favorite and made it less about AI
By Dave Lozo and Morning BrewDecember 4, 2025
3 hours ago
InnovationVenture Capital
This Khosla Ventures–backed startup is using AI to personalize cancer care
By Allie GarfinkleDecember 4, 2025
7 hours ago
AIEye on AI
Companies are increasingly falling victim to AI impersonation scams. This startup just raised $28M to stop deepfakes in real time
By Sharon GoldmanDecember 4, 2025
7 hours ago
Jensen Huang
SuccessBillionaires
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admits he works 7 days a week, including holidays, in a constant ‘state of anxiety’ out of fear of going bankrupt
By Jessica CoacciDecember 4, 2025
7 hours ago
Ted Pick
BankingData centers
Morgan Stanley considers offloading some of its data-center exposure
By Esteban Duarte, Paula Seligson, Davide Scigliuzzo and BloombergDecember 4, 2025
7 hours ago
Zuckerberg
EnergyMeta
Meta’s Zuckerberg plans deep cuts for metaverse efforts
By Kurt Wagner and BloombergDecember 4, 2025
8 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Economy
Two months into the new fiscal year and the U.S. government is already spending more than $10 billion a week servicing national debt
By Eleanor PringleDecember 4, 2025
12 hours ago
placeholder alt text
North America
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos commit $102.5 million to organizations combating homelessness across the U.S.: ‘This is just the beginning’
By Sydney LakeDecember 2, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
‘Godfather of AI’ says Bill Gates and Elon Musk are right about the future of work—but he predicts mass unemployment is on its way
By Preston ForeDecember 4, 2025
8 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
Ford workers told their CEO 'none of the young people want to work here.' So Jim Farley took a page out of the founder's playbook
By Sasha RogelbergNovember 28, 2025
6 days ago
placeholder alt text
Health
Bill Gates decries ‘significant reversal in child deaths’ as nearly 5 million kids will die before they turn 5 this year
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 4, 2025
19 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
Tariffs and the $38 trillion national debt: Kevin Hassett sees ’big reductions’ in deficit while Scott Bessent sees a ‘shrinking ice cube’
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 4, 2025
7 hours ago
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.