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KGI: Apple to upgrade Touch ID sensor in next iPhone, expects over a quarter of a billion units in 2015

KGI-Touch-ID-report

KGI is out with a new report today predicting both a large rise in the number of Touch ID sensors shipped this year as well as an improved version of the biometric security reader for the next version of the iPhone. “We raise our 2015F shipments of Touch ID (fingerprint recognition) module by 12.4% to 262mn sets, up 77% YoY.” As for the updated Touch ID sensor, the improved version is believed to offer more reliable reads and better security as Apple continues to push Apple Pay, it’s recently launched mobile payment service:

We think the new iPhone, expected to launch in 3Q15, will be equipped with an upgraded Touch ID module, with which Apple (US) intends to offer a better and safer Apple Pay user experience with reduced reading errors.

The report also notes that despite recent patent filings covering technology that would potentially embed the biometric sensor into the display of the device, KGI believes such an upgrade is not likely in the near term:

Though Apple has filed patents for the integration of Touch ID and touch panel, this isn’t likely to bear fruit near term as complex algorithms and sapphire cover lens are also required. We therefore don’t see any impact on supply chain momentum.

The described 77% year over year growth for Touch ID modules shipping is likely expected also based on even more generations of products including the biometric sensor.

Touch ID first shipped with the iPhone 5s in the fall of 2013 while Apple obviously included the sensor with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in 2014; additionally, Apple brought the Touch ID sensor to its tablet lineup with the introduction of the iPad mini 3 and iPad Air 2 last fall. While the iPod touch has not seen a significant hardware refresh since the fall of 2012, Touch ID is not yet available anywhere on the iPod lineup.

apple-pay

The Touch ID sensor was initially only used to unlock the iPhone and authorize purchases of media and apps from the iTunes Store and App Store on iOS. The release of Apple Pay added the additional functionality of authorizing payments for physical goods through apps as well as making purchases in retail stores and other venues.

Sticking with recent iPhone releases in previous years, KGI expects the upgraded Touch ID module to appear on new iPhones shipping in the third quarter of this year with production ramping up during the second quarter of 2015.

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Comments

  1. Andrew Messenger - 9 years ago

    This just in: iPhone 6s comes with an improved camera, improved CPU/GPU. Please, write me up as an article too.

    • florinnica - 9 years ago

      ‘sources familiar with the matter tell us that it will be a minimum of 14.7MP camera.’ (for 5K video)

  2. repentantgamer - 9 years ago

    I don’t know, I was pretty sure that Apple would just not bother with Touch ID, take the Onion’s advice, and get all the engineers to work on printers instead. As it stands, I think I already have a better record on Apple predictions than Gene Munster or Digitimes.

    My suggested alternative for relying on Ming Chi Kuo’s predictions – ask yourself a question about Apple, then flip a coin. You’ll be right 50% of the time, as will he.

  3. Atlas (@Metascover) - 9 years ago

    Every time I read something that says that TouchID needs to make less errors, I feel like I’m the only one in the world with TouchID on iPhone 5S that works perfectly all the time and without cheating and registering the same finger several times. Simply put, it works flawlessly.

    • chrisl84 - 9 years ago

      I works flawlessly for me too but Im not going to assume what works for me must work for everyone else too. The older a person gets the more their finger prints flatten or after being in water they change….perhaps an improved Touch ID would help with those situations.

      • OMG you actually made me google old people and fingerprints… and yes – “Senile atrophy of friction skin due to old age causes the ridges to often almost flatten, causing fingerprints with many creases (creases are also unique but not always permanent) and poorly defined ridges”

        I have trouble with wet (or REALLY sweaty) fingers, but otherwise it’s flawless. With the three of us…I’d say that statistically counts as flawless technology.

  4. Taste_of_Apple - 9 years ago

    Makes sense.

  5. appleo - 9 years ago

    Perhaps a TouchID-through-glass sensor will be implemented in the future in the Watch.

  6. Matouš Petrus - 9 years ago

    Also, I can see it in the 3rd quarter. As always .. buyersguideapple.com

  7. daffidj (@DavidSmol) - 9 years ago

    Is there a difference in sensors in the iPad air 2 and the iPhone 5s? Because touchID on my iPhone works about half the time (I even got a replacment iPhone, no difference) while on my iPad it works flawlessly.

  8. I really wish Apple would add a Touch ID sensor to their Mac line of computers. Trying to remember passwords to all the websites I use is a PITA.

Author

Avatar for Zac Hall Zac Hall

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.