Leakster Ben Geskin today shared a rumored iPhone X design that was widely shared prior to its launch in 2017. It features an Android-style Touch ID on the back and narrow bezels up front.
Why do I think that Apple itself made it? It’s too detailed.
As if this was one of the prototypes, but I think it's clear that Apple never really considered this design with Touch ID, having an iPhone X with Face ID in its sleeve 👌 pic.twitter.com/zyAFU7JNNT
— Ben Geskin (@BenGeskin) January 31, 2022
Around five years ago, it was rumored that Apple was departing from the iconic design that featured thick bezels on the top and bottom, with the bottom one housing a round Touch ID button (via MacRumors). Questions were raised about where the fingerprint authentication would be placed, but Apple eventually unveiled Face ID, ditching Touch ID completely.
However, rumors at the time had suggested that Apple would be sticking with Touch ID and implementing it at the rear of the device or even under the display. Some really consistent series of leaks had seemed to prove so — they showed an iPhone X with slimmer top and bottom bezels and an aluminum rear with a round Touch ID sensor.
The widespread and consistent nature of such leaks had led many to believe that Apple itself was behind them, seeking to lower customer expectations. And that’s exactly what Ben Geskin has once again brought up through his tweet.
The tweet quotes another about the sale of an “iPhone 7s Plus Galactic Silver 64GB” for $125. It’s unclear if the device is a dummy or an actual working prototype iPhone. But the latter seems unlikely because if the device had indeed been the real deal, there’s no way it would’ve been sold at such a giveaway price. A fake Android with the body of an iPhone could be another possibility but it’s difficult to know for sure.
Flagship iPhones have been lacking Touch ID functionality for around five years now but Apple is rumored to be bringing it back. Reports did suggest that the company tested under-display fingerprint sensors for the iPhone 13 series, but Apple apparently chose to stick with Face ID for another year. Thus, it’s possible that fingerprint authentication is set to make a return soon with a future iPhone.
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