'Better' and 'safer' Touch ID arriving on Apple's next iPhone
Apple isn’t expected to release a new iPhone until September. Nonetheless, the “iPhone 6s” rumor mill has begun churning in earnest. The latest news comes from KGI Securities’ Ming-Chi Kuo via AppleInsider.
According to the analyst, the next-generation iPhone will feature an updated Touch ID model that will “offer a better and and safer Apple Pay user experience by reducing reading errors.”
One thing that isn’t changing is the Touch ID’s location. Like on the current iOS devices, the Touch ID will remain in the home button.
Kuo notes:
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. We therefore don’t see any impact on supply chain momentum.
The next Apple handset is likely to feature an “A9” processor, improved camera, and a bump in RAM. It could also feature a display that uses “Force Touch” technology, according to a January report from TechNews Taiwan.
According to that report, Apple will boost the amount of internal RAM and use faster LPDDR4 RAM technology. This type of RAM would speed up performance and use less energy.
The current-generation iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus use 1GB of LPDDR3 RAM. The iPad Air 2 features 2GB of LPDDR3 RAM.
“Force Touch” technology, meanwhile, differentiates between quick taps and more forceful presses on the display. This type of technology will debut on the Apple Watch later this year.
