Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Touch too much: The next MacBook Pro may support fingerprint scanning

By

macbook pro touch id august rumor iphone fingerprint scanning header
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Apple is expected to release a new iteration of its MacBook Pro this fall, and we’re starting to hear more about what features the new model might bring to the table. On Monday, word began to spread that the laptop will follow in the iOS device’s footsteps with Touch ID biometric fingerprint scanning.

The Touch ID system allows iPhone and iPad users to prove their identity by pressing their fingerprint against the home button. This adds an extra layer of security to all kinds of processes — everything from unlocking the device to making a purchase on the App Store can be authenticated using the scanner.

Recommended Videos

The MacBook Pro will apparently house its Touch ID scanner within the system’s power button, according to a report from 9to5Mac. This makes sense, as the button is well-positioned for authentication while the system is already powered on.

Related

Touch ID support for Apple’s flagship laptop was first rumored in June. Documentation related to MacOS Sierra contained references to the feature, which seemed to be a fairly strong indication that support would be added to the next wave of MacBook Pro hardware.

The source being used to corroborate Touch ID support rumors also states the new MacBook Pro will feature an OLED touch bar, another feature that has been the subject of pervasive rumors in recent months. This new hardware component will apparently replace the function keys across the top of the system’s keyboard.

Apple’s current iteration of the MacBook Pro has been available since the spring of 2015, so it certainly wouldn’t be too surprising to see the company introduce new features like Touch ID support and an OLED touch bar to freshen up the device. These rumors are still unconfirmed, but all signs point toward an update to this laptop this fall.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Brad Jones
Brad Jones
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…
The case for buying the M2 MacBook Air over the M3 model
The screen of the MacBook Air M2.

Apple's MacBook Air M2 recently stood at the top of our list of best laptops, and for good reason. It's incredibly well-built, exuding an elegance that few laptops can match. It's also plenty fast for productivity users, and its GPU is optimized for creators. Its keyboard, touchpad, and display are all top-notch.

Enter the MacBook Air M3, which (hint) took over the MacBook Air's place on that list. The upgraded chipset offers even faster performance, particularly in GPU-intensive apps, and the M3 model supports an additional external display (with the display closed). It's $100 more, but is that uptick in price justified? Let's dig in.
Specs and configurations

Read more
Why you should buy a MacBook Pro instead of a MacBook Air
The 14-inch MacBook Pro on a window sill.

There are plenty of reasons to buy a MacBook Air instead of a MacBook Pro. If you want a MacBook on a budget, you don't necessarily need the goodies that come with upgrading to the MacBook Pro.

That being said, I'm going to argue for spending a little more. In my experience, the MacBook Pro offers several distinct advantages that help justify a higher price, especially with the introduction of the more affordable MacBook Pro 14 with the base M3. If you can stretch your budget a bit, here's why I think you should buy a MacBook Pro instead of a MacBook Air.
Setting the stage: pricing

Read more
Apple’s next Pencil may work with the Vision Pro headset
All three versions of the Apple Pencil lined up next to each other.

A couple of news reports posted on Monday suggest that Apple has been testing a new Apple Pencil that can be used with the company's recently released Vision Pro headset. One of them even suggests that the new Vision Pro-compatible Apple Pencil could launch alongside new iPads in the next few weeks, but this is by no means confirmed.

Both MacRumors and GSM Arena cited people with knowledge of the matter, with the former saying that support for the Apple Pencil would “essentially turn your surroundings into the Pencil's canvas.”

Read more