Apple Watch fans hoping for Touch ID will likely need to keep waiting. New information suggests Apple has put plans for a fingerprint sensor on hold for the foreseeable future, even as the next-generation Apple Watch is expected to gain a larger battery and upgraded health sensors.
The current Apple Watch Series 11 arrived with only modest improvements, but earlier clues hinted that Apple was exploring a Touch ID-style solution for a future model. Testing reportedly included two possible designs: a fingerprint reader hidden under the OLED display or built into the side button. That kind of upgrade would have brought a familiar iPhone-style convenience to the wrist, letting users unlock the watch without entering a PIN and potentially making Apple Pay transactions even more secure through biometric authentication.
Now, that fingerprint sensor appears to be off the table, at least for now. The reasoning is straightforward: adding Touch ID would increase manufacturing costs and take up valuable internal space inside the compact watch case. Instead, Apple is said to be prioritizing that space for a bigger battery.
Exactly what a larger battery will deliver remains unclear. It could lead to longer battery life, but it may also be there to offset higher power demands from next-generation features, including possible on-device AI functions that can be more resource-intensive than today’s tasks. Either way, it points to Apple focusing on performance and endurance rather than introducing a new biometric component.
There’s also a practical argument against Touch ID on the Apple Watch: many users already unlock their watch automatically when their paired iPhone unlocks with Face ID. That means a fingerprint sensor might not dramatically change day-to-day use for most people, beyond small convenience improvements in specific scenarios.
Beyond battery changes, Apple is reportedly continuing to work on more advanced sensors. While details are still limited, ongoing rumors in the Apple Watch ecosystem have long pointed to ambitious health upgrades such as non-invasive blood glucose monitoring and improved blood pressure tracking. However, those headline features are not expected to be ready in time for the Apple Watch Series 12 launch window, which is widely anticipated around September.
For now, the next Apple Watch generation is shaping up to be a more measured upgrade: potentially better battery capacity, refined sensor technology, and continued groundwork for future health breakthroughs—while the long-discussed Touch ID fingerprint sensor remains on the sidelines.
