Touch ID, the fingerprint authentication technology that has been missing from Apple's flagship iPhone lineup since 2017, is reportedly set to make a comeback in a side button configuration on a new iPhone model that could arrive as soon as next year.
Apple's first foldable iPhone may see the revival of Touch ID, according to respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a recent report, Kuo details that Apple's foldable iPhone will forgo Face ID entirely, and instead use Touch ID in a side button format similar to the design found on recent iPad Air and iPad mini models. This decision appears to be driven by space constraints in the thin foldable design, which Kuo says will measure between 9mm and 9.5 mm when folded, and an ultra-thin 4.5mm to 4.8 mm when unfolded.
Touch ID was first introduced in 2013 with the iPhone 5s, and revolutionized smartphone security by allowing users to unlock their devices and authenticate purchases with a fingerprint. The technology remained a staple of iPhone design until Apple introduced Face ID with the iPhone X in 2017, marking a shift toward facial recognition as the company's preferred biometric authentication method.
The last iPhone model to feature Touch ID was the third-generation iPhone SE, which Apple discontinued in February 2025 without a like-for-like replacement. It was succeeded by the iPhone 16e, which features Face ID and other premium features like an Action button. This left Apple's entire iPhone lineup exclusively dependent on Face ID technology.
The foldable iPhone is expected to arrive in late 2026 or early 2027, and it reportedly won't come cheap. Kuo projects a premium price tag exceeding $2,000, and potentially climbing above $2,500. The device will reportedly feature a book-style design with a 7.8-inch "crease-free" inner display and a 5.5-inch outer screen.
