Now that Apple is done with the launch of the iPhone 15 series, the rumor mill's attention has understandably shifted to its successor. Word on the street is that the company is going to remove a popular feature from the iPhone 16 lineup.
It's still early days to know anything for certain about the iPhone 16. The company isn't expected to unveil the new devices until at least the second half of 2024, but that's never stopped the rumor mill from speculation.
Touch ID may be gone for good
Rumors on Chinese social media website Weibo claim that Apple is going to get rid of Touch ID from the iPhone 16 series. Some Apple fans were hoping that Touch ID may be resurrected with next year's iPhone but that no longer appears to be the case.
Apparently much of the equipment used to manufacture Touch ID chips has now been shut down permanently. The only remaining units are currently being used for providing chips for the third-generation iPhone SE. This goes to show that Apple may not have any plans to bring back Touch ID.
This also means that the fourth-generation iPhone SE may not have Touch ID, either, and that it may also be shifted to Face ID. This would thus replace the last iPhone model that's holding on to Touch ID still.
There have been rumors that Apple might bring ultrasonic fingerprint recognition technology to future iPhones, but even that's not slated to happen before 2026, if it does happen at all.
