According to Chinese insider Instant Digital, Apple has abandoned the idea of embedding a fingerprint scanner in the Apple Watch. There are two reasons: the additional sensor is too expensive amid rising memory and component prices, and its electronics would take up space needed for a larger battery. For now, this is a rumor, but it explains why years of Touch ID expectations for the watch may remain just that — expectations — especially with the upcoming release of Apple Watch Series 12.
Touch ID, contrary to all rumors, won’t appear in Apple Watch
How Apple Wanted to Embed Touch ID in the Digital Crown
This story has been going on for years. Back in 2020, an Apple patent filing showed that the company was considering embedding Touch ID directly into the Digital Crown — the wheel on the side of the watch. The patent wording was, as usual, vague, but the illustrations left no doubt: the sensor was planned to be placed right in the crown.
Originally, the sensor was meant to be part of the Digital Crown wheel
Last summer, Macworld found a code leak pointing to the feature launching in 2026 models. The code mentioned “AppleMesa” — Apple’s internal code name for Touch ID. At the time, it seemed like the watch was about to get its own biometric sensor.
Why Apple Abandoned Touch ID in Apple Watch
Now Instant Digital — who has a reputation as a fairly accurate source on Apple products — writes that the company has changed its mind. According to him, talk about biometrics in Apple Watch remains pure rumor, and Apple’s current approach is to keep unlocking via the paired iPhone. The company’s focus is now elsewhere: a larger battery and health sensors.
Unfortunately, a fingerprint sensor in Apple Watch is not expected
He cites two reasons for dropping Touch ID:
- the cost of an additional sensor at a time when Apple’s margins are already suffering due to rising memory and component prices;
- the control electronics for the sensor would have to take space away from the battery.
It’s important to keep in mind: this is a leak from a third-party insider, not an Apple statement. Officially, the company has not commented on Touch ID plans for the watch in either direction.
Touch ID in Apple Watch: Why It’s Needed
For everyday use, nothing changes. Apple Watch unlocks automatically when you take the watch off and put it back on after unlocking a nearby iPhone. From then on, the watch stays unlocked for the rest of the day — until you take it off. There aren’t many scenarios where Touch ID would actually be useful: perhaps confirming Apple Pay purchases or logging into banking apps right from your wrist.
Why Apple Watch Doesn’t Have Touch ID, Even Though Apple Really Wanted It
The trade-off the insider mentions makes sense. Between a fingerprint scanner and battery life, most users would choose the latter — Apple Watch battery life has long been the main complaint about the lineup, especially compared to competitors that offer a week of usage.
Should You Expect Apple Watch with Touch ID in 2026
There are two sides here. On one hand, the patent and code leak were real and specific enough to suggest actual development. On the other hand, Apple regularly develops features to the prototype stage that never make it into a product. The decision “not to ship” is just as much part of the process as the decision “to ship.”
The sensor was supposed to appear in Series 12, but alas
Instant Digital is a source with a decent reputation, but not on the level of Kuo or Gurman. His words should be taken as a signal, not a final verdict. There’s still time before the fall Apple Watch announcement, and Apple’s plans could theoretically change again.
If you’re choosing an Apple Watch in 2026 and were specifically waiting for Touch ID — it’s better to plan without this feature. Buying a watch “hoping they’ll add it” is a bad strategy in general, and especially so with this rumor.
If you already have an Apple Watch and are satisfied with the current iPhone-based unlocking — you can safely skip this news. Practically, it changes nothing: there was no biometrics on the watch, and there won’t be, at least not in the foreseeable future. However, the promise of a larger battery and new health sensors is a much more interesting benchmark for those planning an upgrade.
