Apple Targets 4 iPhone Duo Upgrades as Face ID Risks Slipping to Duo 3

Q: Will Apple's $1,999 iPhone Duo 2 finally ditch the awkward Touch ID for Face ID next fall, or will users wait until 2028?

Probably, but not yet certain. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple is actively testing iPhone Duo 2 prototypes with under-display Face ID on the outer screen, and making that change is described as one of the company’s top priorities for next fall’s model. That makes iPhone Duo 2 the likeliest point for Apple to replace the current side-button Touch ID system, which early reviewers have criticized as slower and awkward, especially for some left-handed users. The catch is timing. Gurman says the schedule is tight and the technology is not fully ready, so Apple has not locked it in for release. If engineering or reliability targets slip, Face ID would likely move to the third-generation iPhone Duo instead, now expected in 2028. So the best answer is that Apple is aiming to ditch Touch ID next fall, but users should treat it as a strong possibility rather than a guarantee. Right now, the evidence points to Face ID being in development and already present in internal prototypes, not confirmed shipping hardware. The broader context supports why this matters. The $1,999 first-generation Duo launched with Touch ID in the power button, likely because Apple struggled to fit the full TrueDepth system into the foldable’s very thin chassis. Apple is also reportedly exploring other future Duo upgrades, including a telephoto camera, larger displays, and a thinner, lighter body, but Face ID on the outer screen appears to be the immediate priority.

3 articles · Updated · MacRumors · Nov 15

Apple has set four priorities for future iPhone Duo models: Face ID, an Action button, a telephoto camera and a thinner, lighter design.
Face ID is the most advanced of those efforts, with Duo 2 prototypes already placing the system on the outer display.
Tight timing could still push that feature back, as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple is running out of time to finalize it for Duo 2.
If delayed, Face ID would arrive with iPhone Duo 3 instead, leaving the broader hardware roadmap for later models still in progress.