Apple is reportedly testing second-generation iPhone Duo prototypes with Face ID sensors placed beneath the outer display, according to MacRumors. The claim comes from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman on his Power On podcast on October 22, one day before the first iPhone Duo goes on sale and a day after it was reported that the phone is getting Apple Pencil support with iOS 27.2. The first model uses a fingerprint sensor in its side button instead of Face ID, and Apple hasn’t finalized whether the new hardware will ship.
| Detail | Reported |
| Source | Mark Gurman, Bloomberg Power On podcast (October 22) |
| Under-display Face ID | Reportedly in iPhone Duo 2 prototypes, beneath the outer display |
| First iPhone Duo | Fingerprint sensor built into the side button |
| Action button | Apple reportedly considering one for a future Duo, not tied to the Duo 2 |
| Expected timing | Duo 2 “next fall,” around fall 2027, not confirmed |
| Status | Prototype stage; Apple hasn’t finalized it |
| Touch ID kept alongside? | Unknown |
The first Duo’s thin body is the reason given for the compromise, since it leaves little room for the depth-sensing parts Face ID needs. Losing Face ID was one of the biggest complaints in early reviews, so a fix would matter to buyers. This report also firms up an earlier one. In September, Gurman predicted Apple would prioritize Face ID and a telephoto lens, but only named the third generation. Prototypes that already include the sensor suggest Apple is further along than that guess implied, though the timing isn’t settled. Reports of the podcast say the feature may not make next year’s model and could slip to the Duo 3 if development runs late, and one summary describes a looser window of two to three years.
Several things remain unknown. Apple could keep the fingerprint sensor next to Face ID or drop it entirely, and neither has been reported. Infrared sensors would also have to work accurately and securely through the display, which is the main engineering hurdle for any under-screen Face ID. The Action button talk is even less certain, with the reports calling it a possibility for some future Duo rather than a plan for the Duo 2. Apple had already struggled with low assembly yields on the first model, so a more complex second-generation design isn’t guaranteed to arrive on schedule.
M Adnan Akram is the founder and lead writer at Phoonomo, covering mobile technology with a primary focus on Apple and the broader smartphone industry, alongside emerging developments in AI. He follows product launches, spec leaks, and industry trends closely to keep readers informed with timely updates.
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