One of the biggest criticisms Apple has received for its first foldable is the lack of a face unlock feature. Ever since the iPhone X made its way to the market, users have grown used to the convenience of a snappy Face ID system that identifies them and unlocks their device in less than a second. On the iPhone Duo, however, Apple went with a fingerprint sensor embedded in the side-mounted power button.
It’s definitely a learning curve for users accustomed to Face ID, and it appears Apple is already at work to fix that wrinkle, as per Bloomberg. “I’m told that Apple has already developed prototypes of the iPhone Duo 2 with Face ID, and engineers are still actively working to integrate the facial-recognition system into the outer display of the second-generation model,” says the report.
According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple has already developed prototype units of the second-generation iPhone Duo with Face ID, and engineers are actively working to integrate the system into the phone’s outer display. However, it’s not certain that the iPhone Duo 2 will actually ship with Face ID.
Product development at Apple is usually a long, drawn-out process, and hardware features are typically locked in well before a product makes its way to the market. The iPhone Duo 2, currently in development under the code name V78, is expected to launch next fall, which means Apple needs to finalize its hardware features right around now. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman calls it a toss-up whether Face ID will make the cut, though he isn’t ruling it out either. Either way, putting face unlock on its next foldable phone appears to be the company’s top priority.
Apple also reportedly wants to add an Action button to the iPhone Duo 2, possibly by combining it with the Camera Control button. Other changes Apple has planned for its next couple of foldable phones include a telephoto zoom camera and a design that’s thinner and lighter than the iPhone Duo.