On new budget iPhone 16e, there's a big change in Apple's biometric security
With the new iPhone 16e, Apple is taking a break from fingerprint technology in its smartphone line-up. But the biometric separation may only be temporary.
With the release of its new iPhone 16e, which started shipping on Friday, Apple is taking a break from fingerprint technology as a biometric security feature in its smartphone line-up. But the separation may only be temporary.
In a move that underscores the tech giant's ongoing commitment to facial authentication technology, Apple's new phone for more budget-conscious consumers will offer Face ID instead of fingerprint scanning technology, dubbed Touch ID.
"It's the most effortless way of authenticating," said Joe Palmer, chief innovation officer at iProov, a global technology company focused on biometric verification and authentication. If you think about how many times you unlock a phone in a day, even if it takes you a second and you're unlocking the phone 100 times a day, it adds up, he said. "I don't think we're going to see an evolution beyond face anytime soon," he added.
Still, technology and cybersecurity professionals say fingerprint scanning technology has plenty of life left — and Apple itself is likely to offer the option in future device releases, including smartphones.