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Some users reporting that Apple’s iPhone 5s Touch ID losing accuracy over time

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iphone-5s-touch3:10 PM – Every since the purchase of AuthenTec by Apple in 2012, we had wondered how the company will be integrating the acquired technology into the iPhone.  Debuted at Touch ID, Apple introduced a fingerprint touch sensor in the iPhone 5s.  This surprised many and the company introduced a new way for users to unlock their iPhone.

Now, Dr. Drang, a widely popular individual who is consulting engineer posted on his blog stating that he is having issues with his iPhone 5s.  More specifically, he noted that he is having issues with the Touch ID fingerprint sensor.

He writes on his blog:

I’ve been using Touch ID since I got an iPhone 5s in mid-October. Generally speaking, I like it, and I find it faster than the old swipe-and-passcode method, but I’ve felt compelled to reteach it my fingerprints twice already. I know this sounds impossible, but its recognition of my prints seems to decay with time.

He continued on to say:

I rescanned my fingers this weekend, and Touch ID has been amazingly fast and accurate since then. Just as it was when I first got the 5s, and just as it was a few weeks later when I rescanned my fingers for the first time. Just before each rescan, though, I was so frustrated with Touch ID I felt like throwing the phone across the room.

He has reported an issue with his iPhone 5s’ Touch ID.  On the contrary, Daring Fireball’s John Gruber says that “Drang is not alone — I’ve had a handful of readers ask me about this recently. Makes me think there’s something to it. Me, personally, though, I haven’t noticed any drop-off in accuracy.”

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There are several other users that have reported problems with the accuracy on their iPhone 5s.  I personally have not had any problems with my iPhone 5s.  I use the Touch ID fingerprint sensor everyday and have had no issues.  Perhaps its some hardware issue?  Software issue?

What do you think?

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