Apple is reportedly testing second-generation iPhone Duo prototypes with Face ID hidden beneath the outer display, potentially addressing one of the biggest compromises of the company’s first foldable iPhone.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple has already incorporated under-display facial authentication hardware into prototypes of a successor expected next fall, although the company has not yet finalized whether the feature will ship.
The current iPhone Duo uses Touch ID integrated into its side button instead of Face ID, a decision linked to the extremely limited internal space available inside the device’s thin folding chassis. The Apple Post previously explained how Touch ID works on iPhone Duo, allowing the same fingerprint sensor to authenticate users whether the phone is folded or unfolded.
Gurman had previously suggested that Face ID could be one of the major upgrades Apple targets for a future iPhone Duo, potentially alongside a dedicated telephoto camera. Earlier reporting pointed to the third generation, making the existence of second-generation Face ID prototypes a more concrete sign that Apple is actively trying to bring the feature forward.
Apple is also said to be considering adding an Action button to a future iPhone Duo. The first-generation model omits the Action button, another difference compared with Apple’s conventional flagship iPhones.
For buyers deciding whether to jump into Apple’s first foldable generation or wait, The Apple Post has already looked at whether it makes sense to buy iPhone Duo now or wait for its successor.
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