Back in 2020, a patent application revealed that Apple was considering adding Touch ID to the Apple Watch’s digital crown. Code leaked last year seems to suggest new features could be coming soon.
However, a leaker with a decent track record now says the company rejected the idea, citing cost and battery life concerns…
As is common with Apple patent documents, the language was intentionally opaque, but the accompanying illustration showed the Digital Crown’s Touch ID sensor very clearly.
Last summer, mac world We’ve discovered leaked Apple code that greatly supports this idea and hints at the new feature’s arrival in 2026.
The code, which clearly refers to the 2026 model of the Apple Watch, mentions support for “AppleMesa,” which has long been Apple’s internal code name for Touch ID.
At the time, we expressed some doubts about the benefits of this, but now leaker Instant Digital suggests that the company has decided not to introduce it.
At this point, claims that biometrics should be added to wearable devices like the Apple Watch are just rumors. Apple’s current logic still requires users to unlock via mobile phone integration. Apple’s current focus is to include larger batteries and more advanced health sensors.
They suggest two reasons for the apparent change of heart. The first is the cost of additional sensors at a time when Apple is facing margin pressure from rising costs for memory and other components. Second, the space taken up by the processing circuitry reduces the space available for the battery.
9to5Mac’s opinion
There is clear evidence that Apple was considering adding Touch ID to the Apple Watch, but it’s not hard to believe that the company rejected the idea because it offered relatively little value to users. Unlocking your paired iPhone is already a convenient way to unlock your Watch.
