A change could be coming to the iPhone this year.
According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apples popular smartphone is expected to see a major overhaul this year, to commemorate the 10th anniversary for the popular smartphone. Details have also been expressed from Macrumors.
One of the new key features that is said to launch with this year’s iPhone is facial recognition. This could be a game changer in terms of phone accessibility. Along with that, a more drastic design change is rumored, as well as a flexible OLED screen display and 3D touch support.
Ming-Chi Kuo stated:
“Apple may switch to a film sensor from the current FPCB sensor in order to provide better 3D Touch user, as a film sensor offers higher sensitivity. Also, we can expect the new OLED iPhone will come with a flexible OLED panel. To avoid deforming the form factor of the flexible OLED panel from touch operation pressure, a metal structural part will be placed under the film sensor to provide more robust structural support.”
Kuo believes Apple will take away the iPhones fingerprint scanner altogether in favor of this new facial recognition identification. This new feature will supposedly be integrated into the new phone design for this year, which is supposedly going to have a thinner and more metallic look with the home button blended in.
Although these software and design changes are just rumors, it makes sense that Apple would want to make some drastic changes to their next iPhone. Since this is the 10th anniversary of the device Apple will be celebrating accordingly by adding new features inside and out.
A big elephant in the room Apple will have to address during the next iPhone keynote speech will be security. Ever since the iPhone integrated fingerprint scanning as a primary feature, customers have felt this may lead to some unwanted attention. Apple needs to reassure their customers that the iPhone won’t leak any information about their personal life.
With the iPhone 7, Apple took away the traditional audio jack that’s been prevalent on all of those iPhones and iPods. That move was met with some dissatisfaction, but Apple was confident with their decision, and any future changes will most likely be met with the same attitude. Still, these are just rumors and speculation about the iPhone 8. Any true details will come out closer to the phone’s release.