Apple’s first foldable iPhone looks increasingly likely to mark the return of Touch ID to a flagship iPhone, with code discovered in iOS 27 providing another clue about the authentication system expected on the upcoming device.
New Car Key localization strings found in iOS 27 reference an iPhone capable of using both Ultra Wideband and Touch ID, an unusual combination that does not currently exist anywhere in Apple’s iPhone lineup.
The discovery was highlighted by @itspdfu on X, who noted that the strings were added with iOS 27 beta 4 and include instructions specifically written for a Touch ID-equipped iPhone with UWB support.
The code includes separate Car Key instructions for Face ID and Touch ID devices, including a string describing passive entry on a Touch ID iPhone using Ultra Wideband. Apple’s existing UWB-equipped iPhones, beginning with the iPhone 11 generation, have used Face ID rather than Touch ID.
That makes the reference particularly notable ahead of Apple’s September 9 special event, where the company is widely expected to introduce its first foldable iPhone, commonly referred to as the iPhone Ultra.
The Apple Post previously reported that Apple insiders have praised the iPhone Ultra ahead of its expected launch, with the device said to combine a compact outer display with a much larger folding screen.
Reports surrounding the foldable iPhone have repeatedly suggested Apple will abandon Face ID on the model and instead integrate Touch ID into its side button. The approach would allow Apple to avoid fitting the additional TrueDepth camera hardware required for Face ID into the exceptionally thin folding design.
The latest iOS discovery adds software evidence to those reports. The presence of a Touch ID and UWB combination could indicate Apple has prepared Car Key specifically for hardware that has not yet been released.
Apple has already left several other apparent clues about its foldable iPhone inside iOS 27. Earlier beta code referenced a device containing two batteries, matching reports that the iPhone Ultra will use separate battery cells positioned inside each half of its folding body.
Code discovered in iOS 27 previously referenced an iPhone with multiple batteries, providing another apparent connection between the software update and Apple’s forthcoming foldable hardware.
Other iOS 27 framework references have pointed to fold-specific functionality, including the ability for the system to detect a device’s folding state and hinge angle.
The iPhone Ultra is expected to use a book-style design with an external display for regular iPhone use and a larger internal display when unfolded. Apple is also expected to equip the device with its A20 Pro chip and next-generation cellular modem.
Apple’s “Surprise and shine” special event takes place on Wednesday, September 9, where the foldable iPhone is expected to debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.