Will the iPhone 18 have Touch ID?

Probably not on flat iPhones. Touch ID returns to the iPhone lineup in 2026 — but only as a side-mounted button on the iPhone Fold, where Face ID does not work reliably with the foldable inner display. The flat iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2 will continue to use Face ID only. Apple tested in-display Touch ID for the iPhone 18 Pro generation and did not ship it.

Why is Apple adding Touch ID to the iPhone Fold?

Face ID uses an infrared dot projector, flood illuminator, and infrared camera in the notch or Dynamic Island to map a 3D face. The iPhone Fold has an inner display that, when unfolded, shows a continuous 7.8-inch surface. Apple considered putting the Face ID hardware under this display, but the under-display IR camera quality was not good enough for secure authentication. Instead, Apple is putting Touch ID in the side button — the same location as the iPad Air and iPad mini.

The side button Touch ID is a separate capacitive sensor bonded to the power button. It works through the metal frame. The fold also retains a small Face ID module in the outer-display notch, so when the phone is closed and used as a regular phone, Face ID is the primary biometric.

Will the flat iPhone 18 Pro get Touch ID?

No. Ming-Chi Kuo and Mark Gurman both report that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will use Face ID only, with no Touch ID fallback. Apple tested an under-display acoustic fingerprint sensor for the 2025 iPhone 17 Pro generation and rejected it. The cost ($12-$18 per phone) and the reliability penalty (false rejection rate 2-3x higher than the side button) were not justified by the marginal convenience of having both biometric options.

Can I unlock the iPhone 18 with a mask?

Yes. Face ID on the iPhone 18 supports the same "Face ID with mask" mode that arrived in iOS 15.4. The mode works by recognizing the unique area around your eyes, even when the lower half of your face is covered. It is not as secure as full Face ID (Apple says there is a 1 in 1,000,000 chance of a false match for full Face ID vs 1 in 500,000 for the mask mode), but it is fast and works with most sunglasses and masks.

Does the iPhone 18e have Touch ID?

No. The iPhone 18e — the budget 6.1-inch model in the iPhone 18 lineup — uses Face ID only, the same as the iPhone 16e. There is no side-button Touch ID on the iPhone 18e.

Why did Apple remove Touch ID from the iPhone in the first place?

Apple removed Touch ID from the iPhone starting with the iPhone X in 2017, replacing it with Face ID. The company argued at the time that Face ID was more secure (1 in 1,000,000 false match rate vs 1 in 50,000 for Touch ID), more convenient (you do not have to position your finger), and more reliable (it works with wet or dirty fingers). The bet paid off — Face ID became the iPhone's primary biometric, and Touch ID remained on the iPad, the iPhone SE, and the Mac.

Will under-display Touch ID ever come back to the iPhone?

Probably, but not in 2026 or 2027. Apple has patents for under-display acoustic and optical Touch ID, but the technology is not yet at the reliability level Apple requires. The optical sensors used in current Android phones (Samsung Galaxy S26, OnePlus 14) work well in good lighting but struggle with wet fingers and direct sunlight. Acoustic sensors (Qualcomm 3D Sonic) are better with wet fingers but slower and more expensive.

How does side-button Touch ID work on the iPad?

The iPad Air (4th generation and later) and iPad mini (6th generation and later) have Touch ID integrated into the top button (or side button on landscape iPad). The sensor uses a laser-cut sapphire crystal to read the fingerprint from beneath the metal ring of the button. Enrollment is the same as the old home-button Touch ID: you lift and rest your finger on the button repeatedly until the sensor captures all the angles.

Is side-button Touch ID faster than Face ID?

About the same. The iPad side-button Touch ID unlocks in roughly 0.3 seconds. Face ID on the iPhone 18 unlocks in roughly 0.2 seconds. The difference is imperceptible. The bigger practical difference is what happens when authentication fails — Face ID prompts you to try again, and after 5 failures asks for the passcode. Touch ID prompts you to reposition your finger.

Bottom line: Touch ID returns in 2026, but only on the iPhone Fold. The flat iPhone 18 models will continue to use Face ID only, with no under-display Touch ID. If you want both biometrics on one phone, the iPhone Fold is your only option in 2026.

Will the iPhone 18 Face ID work in landscape orientation?

Yes. Face ID has supported landscape unlock since the iOS 16 update for the iPhone 13 Pro and later. The iPhone 18 will continue to support landscape Face ID on all flat models. The iPhone Fold, with its side-button Touch ID, will unlock with a fingerprint in any orientation — folded, unfolded, portrait, or landscape. Side-button Touch ID does not require a specific orientation to read the fingerprint; the sensor is omnidirectional.

Will iOS 27 add new biometric options beyond Face ID and Touch ID?

No. iOS 27 does not introduce any new biometric authentication methods. The two options remain Face ID (for flat iPhones) and Touch ID (for the iPhone Fold). Apple has explored other biometric methods — including palm vein recognition and voice authentication — but neither is ready for production in 2026. Palm vein recognition in particular requires a separate IR sensor that does not fit in the iPhone's bezel. Voice authentication, while technically possible, raises privacy concerns about always-on microphone access.