Apple iPhone Fold Drops Face ID for Touch ID Return

Apple's foldable iPhone journey has taken an unexpected turn, and the latest leaks are stirring up quite the debate in tech circles. While we've been eagerly anticipating Apple's entry into the foldable market, recent reports suggest the iPhone Fold won't feature the under-screen Touch ID many were hoping for. Instead, Ming-Chi Kuo indicates that thickness and internal space constraints prevent Face ID from being included in the first-generation device. The device will reportedly use Touch ID biometric authentication through a capacitive side button, similar to the iPad Air. This marks a significant departure from Apple's current flagship approach, as Touch ID may be returning to a flagship iPhone for the first time since iPhone X introduced Face ID in 2017.

What the leakers are actually saying about Touch ID placement

The rumor mill has been particularly active around the iPhone Fold's authentication system, but there's some confusion about exactly where Touch ID will live. According to recent reports, Apple's first foldable iPhone will skip Face ID entirely in favor of Touch ID integrated into the side button. This approach mirrors what we've seen in current iPad Air and iPad mini models, where the side button with Touch ID will be similar to the design found on current iPad Air and iPad mini models.

Here's what's interesting though - some sources have been floating the idea of under-screen Touch ID, which would represent a major technological leap for Apple. However, the consensus from reliable analysts points toward a more pragmatic solution. It remains not clear why Apple would choose to do the behind-screen Touch ID versus one embedded into the power button, like on the iPad.

The side-button implementation appears to be winning out for several strategic reasons. Apple has already refined this approach across their iPad ecosystem, creating user familiarity and manufacturing efficiency. More importantly, it represents Apple's philosophy of choosing proven reliability over experimental features in their first-generation products.

Why Face ID won't make the cut in Apple's foldable

The decision to abandon Face ID reveals Apple's engineering priorities when form factor constraints force difficult choices. Kuo says thickness and internal space constraints appear to prevent the Face ID module from being included in the first-generation device. This isn't simply about fitting existing technology into a smaller space - it's about Apple's unwillingness to compromise on their vision of an impossibly thin foldable.

Consider the ambitious specifications they're targeting: the foldable device will feature a book-style design with a 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner screen when unfolded, while Apple is targeting a thin profile of 4.5 to 4.8mm for the foldable device. At that thickness - thinner than most current smartphones - the physical reality becomes clear: sensors required for Face ID are simply too large to fit Apple's new radically thin design.

This decision illuminates Apple's design hierarchy. Rather than accepting a thicker device to accommodate Face ID, they're prioritizing the transformative user experience of an ultra-thin foldable form factor. It's a calculated bet that the breakthrough in physical design will outweigh the temporary step back in biometric authentication.

Display tech gets interesting: punch-holes and under-screen cameras

Apple's approach to camera placement reveals sophisticated thinking about how users will actually interact with a foldable device. A new report adds weight to the suggestion that there will be no Dynamic Island on the outer display, Apple instead opting for a single punch-hole for the front-facing camera. This represents a departure from current iPhone design language, but it makes practical sense given the limited real estate.

The technical specifications support this differentiated approach: the internal display is 7.76 inches with a resolution of 2713 x 1920, while the external display is 5.49 inches with a resolution of 2088×1422. These aren't just numbers - they represent Apple's understanding of distinct usage patterns for each screen.

The real innovation emerges on the inner display, where according to Thursday's Weibo post by leaker "Digital Chat Station," the large internal display of the iPhone Fold will use "under-screen camera technology". This dual approach reveals Apple's strategic thinking: the outer screen handles quick interactions where a small punch-hole is acceptable, while the inner screen - where users will consume media and multitask extensively - gets the premium uninterrupted experience.

This differentiation suggests Apple recognizes that foldable devices aren't just larger phones, but fundamentally different computing experiences that require tailored solutions for each use case.

What this means for the broader Apple ecosystem

The iPhone Fold's authentication choices signal a broader evolution in Apple's approach to biometric security across device categories. 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, but its revival suggests Apple now views authentication as contextual rather than universal.

The timing reveals this strategic shift: 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. Yet Touch ID is returning in Apple's most premium foldable category, indicating that form factor now influences authentication strategy more than product hierarchy.

With mass production of the foldable iPhone planned for the second half of 2026 and pricing expected to be between $1,800 and $2,500, Apple is positioning this device as a new category leader that could establish precedents for future authentication approaches across their ecosystem.

PRO TIP: If you've been missing Touch ID on recent iPhones, the iPhone Fold represents your premium pathway back to fingerprint authentication - though you'll pay significantly more than traditional iPhone pricing for the privilege.

The bottom line: engineering compromises with purpose

The iPhone Fold's feature choices reveal Apple at their most pragmatic, making calculated trade-offs that prioritize breakthrough form factor achievements over feature completeness. The decision to forgo under-screen Touch ID for a proven side-button implementation demonstrates Apple's preference for reliability over technological showmanship, especially in first-generation products.

Rather than viewing the return to Touch ID as regression, it's more accurate to see this as Apple's recognition that different device categories demand different solutions. The side-button Touch ID approach has proven itself across the iPad lineup, and its integration into the iPhone Fold suggests Apple values user experience consistency across their ecosystem over maintaining uniform biometric approaches.

The strategic implications extend beyond authentication. Apple's willingness to sacrifice Face ID for extreme thinness signals their belief that the transformative nature of foldable computing justifies temporary compromises on established features. This philosophy - breakthrough form factor first, feature optimization second - could define how Apple approaches other emerging device categories.

As we anticipate Apple's first foldable iPhone to finally arrive next year, the device represents Apple's calculated entry into foldables: prioritizing what they do uniquely well (thin, premium design and ecosystem integration) while accepting pragmatic limitations (Touch ID over Face ID) that serve the larger vision of redefining mobile computing form factors.