- Apple has long been rumored to be planning Touch ID on Apple Watches
- These plans have been put on hold, according to leaker Instant Digital
- The leaker says that Apple is more focused on improving battery life and health sensors.
For some time now we’ve heard rumors that Touch ID, possibly via the digital crown, would come to the best Apple watches. But if the latest rumors are correct, don’t expect this to be announced anytime soon at this year’s WWDC or at Apple’s September events.
“Apple’s current strategy still prioritizes using the iPhone to unlock other devices through seamless connectivity.”
It makes a lot of sense to keep the phone as the hub that brings together all the accessories, but I understand why a Touch ID feature might be tempting. We often hear about the ability of an LTE-enabled Apple Watch to act as a sort of “mini phone,” keeping your contacts, messages, and wallet close at hand (pun totally intended) when you leave the house without your phone.
Biometric security is a logical step for LTE models, but it’s still a niche use case, especially since the watch already locks with a passcode when you take it off your wrist.
However, the leaker claims that Apple is not focusing on this at the moment. They write: ‘Apple’s current focus is on including larger batteries and tirelessly refining its advanced health sensors. The integration of a fingerprint sensor, at least for now, only adds unnecessary costs and directly invades battery space.’
Focusing on what’s important
This is music to my ears. I know Apple Watches well, having reviewed them every year, but I recently switched ecosystems to Apple and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 went from a test device to my daily driver.
I previously switched between Garmin Fenix 8 and Garmin Venu 4, so I’m used to 10 days between charges. While I love the Apple Watch Ultra series, I won’t lie and say that the need to charge it every other day is my biggest annoyance. After the convenience of the Garmin’s huge batteries and low power consumption, living with a shorter battery life is an adjustment.
It’s great to know that Apple plans to beef up the battery even further, and it’s good to know that the accuracy of the health sensor is Apple’s priority right now.
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