The next Apple Watch might not have Touch ID, but Apple has a good reason

Last year, previously unreleased code suggested that Touch ID could be present in a future iteration of the Apple Watch. As spotted by Macworld’s Filipe Espósito, the company was experimenting with a biometric unlock mechanism to complement the current password-based authentication system. While the reporter said testing was still in its early stages, Woozad later reported that the change could come as soon as this year.

Now, Weibo leaker Instant Digital is pushing back against both reports, saying Apple doesn’t plan to drastically change the way users unlock their watches because the hardware required for that authentication method could take up valuable battery space. In the article, Instant Digital suggests that Apple doesn’t like the idea of ​​losing battery life in exchange for Touch ID, nor does it find the additional costs associated with adding this technology acceptable. Yet other rumors suggest the company is considering an entirely new chip for its next wearable, with Woozad spotting its “T8320” identifier, which appears to be an iterative update of the “T8310” used in the Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Series 11.

For several generations, Apple had promised around 18 hours of battery life with the Apple Watch, which represented around a day of use. With the Apple Watch Series 11, the company is now promising 24 hours, while also promoting up to 38 hours with low power mode enabled. While Woozad notes that this is largely due to Apple changing its battery testing methodology, the change in marketing claims reveals that battery life may have become a major concern for the company as Apple Watch competitors now offer multiple days of battery life.

According to Apple, an Apple Watch Series 11 can last 24 hours if the user checks the screen 300 times, receives 90 notifications, uses an app for 15 minutes, completes a 60-minute workout with music playback, and records six hours of sleep tracking data. That said, Apple’s new battery test terms might not indicate how many users are using the Apple Watch, and the company doesn’t specify how much each activity drains the battery. With the latest generation, Apple is also promoting faster charging capabilities, noting that 15 minutes on the charger can provide up to eight hours of battery life, supporting the idea that Apple is concerned about how potential buyers perceive battery life around Apple Watch models.

With battery life seemingly a priority, it looks like Touch ID may not be in the cards for the Apple Watch – at least, not in the near future. No design overhauls or major feature additions have been discussed for the Apple Watch Series 12, although its all-new processor suggests it will represent a new generation of Apple Watch – one that moves away from the chip used in the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Series 11 models.

It looks like the next revolutionary change for Apple Watch users is still at least a few years away, when Apple might be able to introduce blood glucose monitoring technology. In 2023, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that this technology was in its “proof of concept” stage, meaning that the underlying technology exists, but now needs to be condensed to fit into a wearable.

Reports suggest that Apple has been working on blood sugar monitoring since 2010, and if the company succeeds in adding this technology to the Apple Watch, it would be a breakthrough. In the meantime, however, Apple appears to be focusing on an iterative approach to its flagship – after all, the Apple Watch Series 11 and Series 10 are nearly identical – so it might be best to temper any expectations of revolutionary changes coming to the Apple Watch Series 12.