Apple has several new devices in the works, and some are slated to be revealed next month at the company's big iPhone 17 launch event. However, Apple isn't just thinking about the next batch of devices — the firm also has future models in its vision.
According to a report from MacRumors, Apple is working to add Touch ID to future Apple Watch models. The publication found mention of the feature in some internal code. Based on what it saw, the feature could be included in the 2026 Apple Watch models, which are essentially right around the corner.
It's essential to note that the code only indicates that Apple is exploring ways to integrate Touch ID into the Apple Watch. The company hasn't announced any official intentions, nor does the code indicate that Apple has found a satisfactory way to implement the feature in the watch form factor.
If Apple decides to add Touch ID, there are two likely ways it would implement it: a button on the side of the watch or a sensor embedded underneath the screen. The button seems probable, as Apple has a patent for Touch ID on the side button of a watch. That doesn't confirm that it'll be on the side — Apple has plenty of patents that it doesn't use — but it makes that installation method feel a bit more likely.
There have even been reports of a Touch ID sensor on the underside of the watch, but that doesn't sound nearly as practical as having it under the display or on the side, where the security feature is more readily available.
A recent rumor from DigiTimes suggests that Apple is planning a "major redesign" for Apple Watch, and adding a significant feature like Touch ID would certainly be a significant design change, even if it's not the most visually apparent switch.
Again, these are the 2026 devices that will receive the feature based on this code, so don't expect the Apple Watch Series 11 or Apple Watch Ultra 3 to have it. More likely devices are the Series 12 or Ultra 4, but there's no guarantee it happens even by the time those devices hit store shelves.
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- Apple Watch Series 11 — 5 upgrades Apple needs to make to stay relevant with Samsung and Google
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