Apple is reportedly working on bringing Face ID to the next-generation iPhone Duo, with early prototypes already testing the technology beneath the foldable phone’s outer display.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, speaking on his latest Power On podcast, Apple is “actively working” on under-display Face ID as it looks to address one of the biggest compromises of its first foldable iPhone.
The current iPhone Duo relies on Touch ID instead, marking a return to fingerprint authentication that Apple largely moved away from with the introduction of Face ID on the iPhone X.
While Touch ID works reliably on the first-generation Duo, it can take slightly longer to unlock than Face ID. Bringing facial recognition to its successor could make the experience more familiar for existing iPhone users, particularly those accustomed to unlocking their phones without touching a button.
However, fitting Face ID into a foldable design isn’t quite as straightforward.
The iPhone Duo has both an inner and outer display, meaning Apple would need to consider how facial recognition works when the device is folded or unfolded. Adding sensors to both screens could increase manufacturing complexity and costs, while the phone’s particularly thin display leaves limited room for additional components.
Gurman also pointed to the smaller Dynamic Island hardware on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max as evidence of Apple’s progress in moving more technology beneath its displays.
The first-generation iPhone Duo already features an under-display camera, suggesting the company is gradually working towards a less intrusive front-facing setup.
Face ID might not be the only change coming to the next model. Gurman also suggested that Apple could introduce the Action Button, which first appeared on the iPhone 15 Pro, giving users another customisable shortcut.
For now, these features remain in the prototype stage, and there’s no guarantee they’ll make it into the final product. Still, the reported testing suggests Apple is already looking at ways to improve the iPhone Duo’s design without compromising the form factor that makes its first foldable stand out.
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