Apple may add in-screen fingerprint reader to 2020 iPhones

Apple CEO Tim Cook delivers the keynote address during the 2019 Apple Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) at the San Jose Convention Center on June 03, 2019 in San Jose, California.

Justin Sullivan | Getty Images

Apple is working to build in-screen fingerprint readers into its 2020 iPhones, according to Bloomberg. That means you simply need to touch the the screen to unlock the device.

Apple removed the home button and fingerprint sensor in its more recent iPhones. Several competitors already offer in-screen fingerprint readers, including Samsung, Huawei, OnePlus and other Android phone makers.

An Apple spokesperson was not immediately available to comment.

Apple now uses its facial recognition security, called Face ID, on the iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR. Its new iPhones, which it will announce on Sept. 10, are expected to only offer Face ID, which lets you unlock your iPhone, log in to apps, use Animoji and more just by looking at the phone.

Apple has said Face ID is more secure than fingerprint readers, including Touch ID, which it included on the iPhone until the iPhone 8.

"The probability that a random person in the population could look at your iPhone or iPad Pro and unlock it using Face ID is approximately 1 in 1,000,000 with a single enrolled appearance," Apple says on its Face ID website. "The probability for fingerprints is 1 in 50,000" with a single enrolled finger, Apple says on its Touch ID page.

But Apple may want to give users a choice of using either a fingerprint or a face. Bloomberg said the 2020 iPhones will support Face ID and Touch ID. Even though Apple keeps facial recognition local on the device and doesn't send it to the cloud, some people may still find the feature a bit too creepy.

Read more on Bloomberg.

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