by A few weeks ago we heard that Touch ID was likely headed to other Apple devices in addition to the iPhone, and a new report from Asia backs up that claim. Notable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities claims (via Cult of Mac) that the feature will soon come standard in most new iOS devices, such as the iPhone 5, the second iPad Air, and the third-generation iPad mini.
In Kuo’s words, “Apple’s Touch ID module should see shipments soar 233{813a954d5e225a1509f22204ece89c855080ce25555f20805f61bed63cbfde3b} in 2014. We believe every new iOS device launched this year will be equipped with Touch ID, including 4.7″ and 5.5″ new iPhone 6, iPad Air 2, and iPad mini 2 with Retina display. Considering shipments of new products and iPhone 5s sales last longer than in 2013, we forecast unit sales of the fingerprint sensor module to grow 233{813a954d5e225a1509f22204ece89c855080ce25555f20805f61bed63cbfde3b} to 120mn for 2014.”
Kuo also claims that new models with Touch ID will prove more reliable thanks to Apple’s shift to using tin in the manufacturing process. But that doesn’t mean the Cupertino giant is bringing a new manufacturer into the mix; apparently the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and its subsidiary XinTec still hold the contract.
Rumors based on photos and similar evidence suggest that Kuo is correct. Last November some dubious images of an iPad mini with Touch ID appeared on Nowhereelse.fr, and new lines of code in iOS 7.1 seem to confirm Kuo’s speculations as well.
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