Apple Could Add Iris Scanning Technology to the iPhone in 2018
A new biometric technology could be coming to the iPhone in as little as two years. According to a new report from Digitimes, Apple is planning to introduce a handset with an iris scanner sometime in 2018.
A better biometric?
Just like your fingerprint, each iris – the colored part of the eye – is a unique and random pattern that differs from each person. An iris scanning feature would offer a number of advantages compared to the Touch ID biometric sensor located on the home button of iOS devices.
A user wouldn’t need to touch their iOS device, and a device could hypothetically be unlocked faster and from a distance.
Digitimes also stated that Samsung should be introducing iris scanning technology to a flagship phone later this year.
While the publication has a hit-or-miss record when it comes to Apple news, the rumor does offer an interesting look at where future editions of the iPhone could be heading.
A long wait
Even though the next-generation iPhone expected to be unveiled in September should offer a similar form factor to the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, expect even bigger changes to the iPhone in 2017.
Early rumors say the handset will feature some type of new enclosure not made from aluminum along with an AMOLED screen that will provide better battery life an improved contrast ratio. Back in April, our own Abdel Ibrahim speculated that the iPhone’s exterior could be made with Liquid Metal – a specialized type of metallic glass.
And it may also be without a Home button. In May, LG Innotek has announced the invention of a fingerprint sensor module that is built under the display’s glass. The company even said it is “in talks with some handset manufacturers to commercialize the new modules within the year.”
