iPhone 5S Parts Photos Finally Hint at Room for Fingerprint Sensor

Despite multiple reports of a fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5S from analysts and supply chain sources, most leaks did not include a significantly different interior that shows room for a new sensor, but a new leak discovered this week finally offers a glimpse at Apple’s plans to put a fingerprint reader in the iPhone 5S.

An iPhone 5S fingerprint reader will reportedly allow users to unlock their iPhone by placing a finger on the iPhone’s home button. The new iPhone 5S home button could ditch plastic for a convex Sapphire home button that houses a fingerprint sensor.

Read: iPhone 5S Launch Date: What to Expect

The backplate for the iPhone 5S is the foundation for the new iPhone. It is the piece that the logic board (brains of the iPhone ) attaches and where we will see other components like a better camera and the display attach. It’s also where the home button and a home button cushion sit.

Thanks to a new purported iPhone 5S back plate discovered by Nowhereelse.fr, we finally get a look at small changes being made to the internals to fit the long rumored fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5S. The photo below shows a comparison of the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S back plates and home button spacer cushions.

This new leak isn’t proof in and of itself that Apple is planning a fingerprint sensor for the iPhone 5S, but combined with a multitude of rumors that Apple is planning to integrate this new security feature into the new iPhone, it adds to the evidence towards a fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5S home button.

The iOS 7 beta 4 included hints of biometric sensor support with indications that users could unlock their iPhone by placing a finger on the home button. The code is not present in the latest beta, but it could still be in place on the iOS 7 betas in use internally at Apple.

While a fingerprint sensor on a smartphone can be used to launch apps and perform other tasks, it looks like an iPhone 5S fingerprint sensor could be limited to unlocking the iPhone for the time being. Apple is also building in better support for security with authentication and activation lock in iOS 7.

Read: Should I Buy the iPhone 5 or Wait for the iPhone 5S?

The iPhone 5S announcement is set for September 10th according to multiple rumors, and at this point we are just waiting for Apple to confirm with an event invitation.

We could see an iPhone 5S and a budget iPhone 5C announced at the event. The iPhone 5C could arrive as a low-cost option with a price as low as $300 off contract in the U.S.