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All iPhones could have Face ID next year

Face ID may replace Touch ID on iPhones as early as next year.

Gordon Gottsegen CNET contributor
Gordon Gottsegen is a tech writer who has experience working at publications like Wired. He loves testing out new gadgets and complaining about them. He is the ghost of all failed Kickstarters.
Gordon Gottsegen
2 min read
James Martin/CNET

Apple's Face ID will make its debut on the iPhone X on Nov. 3, and it looks like the new tech may be here to stay. According to KGI Securities analyst and known Apple commentator Ming-Chi Kuo (via MacRumors), all 2018 iPhones will likely have Face ID. 

Thanks to Apple's TrueDepth camera system, the X gets all sorts of new tricks like Face ID, augmented reality and (yes) Animojis. This makes facial recognition a standout feature on the phone and also one of the big differences between the X and the more traditional iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.

Watch this: Apple explains Face ID on iPhone X

Kuo suggests that iPhones released in 2018 are likely to abandon the fingerprint sensor, which might mean it's the end of the line for Touch ID on the iPhone. Touch ID has been used for certain situations like unlocking your phone or Apple Pay, but if Face ID works as intended, we may see the end of Touch ID (at least in its current form).

Kuo also claims that the TrueDepth camera gives Apple a competitive edge and differentiates the iPhone X from other phones on the market. He says that Android competitors are still years behind with their facial recognition tech. Releasing more iPhones with this technology in the near future could help Apple bank on this advantage.

This doesn't mean Touch ID is dead just yet. A handful of Apple products (like the MacBook Pro) still use Touch ID, but Kuo has predicted that soon other devices could start using Face ID -- like possibly the next iPad Pro.

It's worth noting that the facial recognition tech is reportedly causing slowdowns in iPhone X production. If that's the case, Apple will need to speed things up if it wants to include facial recognition in next year's iPhone line.

You'll be able to test Apple's facial recognition when the iPhone X hits stores Nov. 3. Click here for 10 things we learned about Apple's Face ID.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this story.