Trending Now - Apple Watch Updates Prioritize Battery Life Over Touch ID

WHO:

TechRadar - Apple is the company involved in the decision regarding the Apple Watch updates.

MacRumors - Instant Digital is a prominent Chinese leaker providing information about Apple's plans.

WHAT:

TechRadar - Apple is allegedly shelving plans to add Touch ID to Apple Watches.

MacRumors - Apple is focusing on larger batteries and more advanced health sensors instead of fingerprint authentication for the Apple Watch.

MacRumors - Adding Touch ID sensors would introduce extra cost and reduce internal space for battery capacity.

WHERE:

MacRumors - The information was shared in a Weibo post by Instant Digital.

WHEN:

MacRumors - Last August, MacRumors confirmed lines of code suggesting Touch ID could arrive on the Apple Watch Series 12 or Apple Watch Ultra 4.

MacRumors - A design update for the Apple Watch is unlikely to happen until 2028 at the earliest.

WHY:

MacRumors - Apple is reportedly content to let users unlock their devices via their paired iPhone instead of implementing Touch ID.

HOW:

MacRumors - The leaker suggests that the tradeoff between adding Touch ID and increasing battery capacity is a consideration Apple is not willing to make at this stage.

(UPDATED May 12, 2026 01:32 UTC)

Apple is reportedly shelving plans to add Touch ID to its Apple Watches, focusing instead on larger batteries and more advanced health sensors. This information comes from a Weibo post by prominent Chinese leaker Instant Digital, who notes that adding Touch ID would increase costs and reduce battery capacity. Apple seems content to allow users to unlock their devices through their paired iPhones rather than pursuing fingerprint authentication at this time.