Why was Touch ID removed?

I know right! I don’t like FaceID; I prefer Touch ID much better! Home buttons were so much more straightforward and helpful than constantly trying to swipe up just to swipe out of an app. Ugh.

The iPhone X marked the first time Apple replaced TouchID after it was introduced in the iPhone 5S. This new device boasted a larger screen display, significantly increasing the visible surface area. However, in their quest for a sleek and modern design, Apple eliminated the top and bottom bezels that housed the camera and speaker, as well as the TouchID sensor and home button.

To allow for the camera and speaker to remain intact at the top, Apple added a 'Notch,' a small black area that dips into the top of the display. Instead of adding a second notch at the bottom for the TouchID/home button, Apple decided to eliminate it entirely. Consequently, they moved to a biometric lock system called FaceID. While FaceID is a sophisticated form of facial recognition, it also introduced a gesture-based navigation interface, where users can swipe from the bottom of the screen.

Apple's decision to eliminate the home button and replace TouchID with FaceID was strategic. With the advent of a buttonless navigation and a superior biometric lock, the iPhone X and future models no longer required the home button or TouchID sensor. Despite these advancements, TouchID did survive in certain MacBooks and iPads and, of course, some iPhone models.

The Rumors and Challenges

Before the iPhone X's release, there were rumors of an in-display fingerprint reader. However, Apple ultimately scrapped this idea due to poor performance and unreliability. According to my understanding and leaks and business news surrounding the launch of the iPhone X, Apple was initially trying to save TouchID.

In 2017, when Apple released the iPhone X, they were fervently working to integrate a fingerprint reader through the screen. Unfortunately, the technology wasn't perfected by any of their suppliers until several months after the device's release. By this time, Apple had already launched FaceID and Animojis, which seemed to overshadow TouchID, making it seem like an afterthought.

My personal experience, and I suspect other users', indicates that FaceID on the original iPhone X has been somewhat inaccurate. Approximately 25% of the time, the facial recognition system fails, necessitating the use of a password. Interestingly, Apple's marketing efforts heavily emphasized the superiority and novelty of FaceID, even going so far as to introduce Animojis, which seemed like a hastily put-together feature to entice users.

While the transition from TouchID to FaceID was strategic, it has certainly raised questions about reliability and user preference. TouchID's ease of use and reliability have left many iPhone users feeling nostalgia and disappointment as they navigate the new gesture-based interface.