KGI Research analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has provided ample and accurate details about unreleased Apple devices in the past, has revealed in a new note to investors that all 2014 iPhones and iPads will come with a Touch ID home button, which will let users unlock their devices using only their fingerprints.
Apple is expected to release two iPhone 6 models this year, including a 4.7-inch and a 5.5-inch devices, and at least two new tablets, including a new iPad Air generation and a new iPad mini with Retina display. The company is also rumored to be considering a bigger iPad Pro tablet at some point in the future, although it’s not clear when or if that will happen.
Touch ID module shipments are expected to increase to 120 million in 2014 and 233 million in 2015, which is significant growth from the 36 million fingerprint sensors shipped last year.
Kuo has also revealed that Apple will make the new Touch ID sensors more durable than their predecessors. “We think Apple will opt for tin, versus previously used chemicals, for Touch ID module packaging of new iOS devices in order to boost durability,” The note reads. “That is, it should procure Japan Unix’s laser welding equipment for packaging.”
This isn’t the first time Apple has been rumored to bring its fingerprint sensor to more iOS devices, including new iPads, as Kuo’s note seems to confirm a recent report that revealed that the next iPad Air and iPad mini models will indeed feature fingerprint sensors.
Following Apple, other companies including HTC and Samsung have included fingerprint scanners in their mobile devices, with the latter expected to bring the feature to multiple device, including non-flagship ones in the future.
