Apple's first foldable iPhone may drop Face ID for Touch ID

Rumors about a foldable iPhone are taking firmer shape, and new leaks point to clear departures from Apple’s usual smartphones. According to well-known leaker Digital Chat Station, the company plans to drop Face ID in its first foldable iPhone in favor of a Touch ID fingerprint scanner built into the power button.

The move is attributed primarily to design constraints. The 3D face-scanning module takes up considerable space, and Apple is reportedly aiming to keep the foldable as thin as possible. For the same reason, the company is said to be avoiding under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensors, which also require extra room inside the body. For a device where every millimeter matters, that trade-off sounds pragmatic.

The insider notes that Apple is putting serious emphasis on the hardware. The hinge, described as very robust, is a particular focus—unsurprising given it’s the backbone of any foldable. Reliability of this mechanism remains a critical challenge for the entire segment.

The engineering prototype referenced in the leak features a 7.58‑inch flexible display with an under‑display front camera. On the outside, there is a 5.25‑inch secondary screen with a hole‑punch for the camera. On the rear, Apple is reportedly testing a dual camera system with a 48‑megapixel main sensor.

The device is described as “wide,” meaning that when opened it would resemble a small tablet. The hope is that this approach could freshen up a foldable market that has begun to look somewhat uniform in recent years. Early indications suggest the newcomer could be introduced as soon as next year.

Notably, the source says Samsung is also exploring a similar wide form factor, though the first major horizontally folding phone of this kind will likely come from a Chinese manufacturer rather than Apple or Samsung.