New supply chain reports lend weight to 'wraparound' 5.8-inch 'iPhone 8' with embedded sen...

AppleInsider · January 18, 2017 1:54PM

New details on this year's anticipated "iPhone 7s" upgrade and "iPhone 8" redesign have emerged, with a Wall Street analyst claiming the iPhone's 10th anniversary will be celebrated with a new jumbo-sized model featuring a 5.8-inch OLED "fixed flex" screen.

Concept rendering of next-gen iPhone with edge-to-edge display.

Citing sources in Apple's supply chain, analyst Timothy Arcuri of Cowen and Company sees a "feature-rich launch" of three new iPhone models in late 2017, headlined by what he refers to as an "iPhone X." The details were revealed in a new research note to investors on Wednesday, a copy of which was provided to AppleInsider.

In addition to the 5.8-inch OLED model with a "wraparound" screen design, he also believes Apple will release new 4.7- and 5.5-inch "iPhone 7s" handsets, serving as upgrades to the existing iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus designs.

The Cowen and Company report suggests Apple may yet choose to use OLED screens in the smaller models, dependent on Samsung's ability to supply OLED screens to Apple in the capacity and process that is desired, as well as consumption of Apple's existing LCD inventory. Earlier reports have suggested that the so-called "iPhone 7s" models will stick to LCD panels, leaving OLED exclusive to the completely redesigned flagship model.

A "wraparound" display is expected in the larger "iPhone 8," utilizing the "fixed flex" screen, as seen in several of Samsung's smartphone products, including the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7.

It's also heavily rumored that key components -- such as the earpiece, FaceTime camera and Touch ID fingerprint sensor -- will be embedded into the OLED display, allowing for a seamless edge-to-edge front panel. Arcuri reiterated those claims, and predicted that Apple may switch to Synaptec's optical-based fingerprint reader for the new Touch ID sensor, citing it as "currently the only workable solution" for detecting a fingerprint through a smartphone screen.

"iPhone 8" OLED concept via iMore.

However, Synaptec's technology is still not being sampled to device manufacturers at this time, leaving some question as to whether or not it could appear in massive quantities in a new iPhone this fall. Apple does currently hold a patent on reading fingerprints through a device screen.

Apple is expected to continue sourcing iPhone cellular modems through Intel and Qualcomm, but widely reported speed issues with the Intel modem may cause a shift to more Qualcomm units. This despite the ongoing lawsuit by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which alleges that Qualcomm acted improperly when it sold modems to Apple in the past.

Arcuri also expects Apple will add some form of facial and gesture recognition to the flagship "iPhone X," powered by a laser sensor, an infrared sensor near the front-facing camera, and wireless charging. However, no new details on any of these were provided in the latest report.

Cowen and Company also predicts that the 5.8-inch OLED screen, as well as the potential Synaptec in-screen fingerprint reader, could prove problematic, because of part yields and low availability.

Rumors of a 5.8-inch "iPhone 8" screen are not new, but some reports have claimed the usable size of the display will be smaller. For example, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities has said the screen size will be closer to 5.1 or 5.2 inches, actually making it smaller than a "Plus" iPhone model.

It has also been suggested that Apple could turn to stainless steel for casings for the "iPhone 8," with the durable metal holding together a "glass sandwich" front and back, akin to the iconic iPhone 4 design.

foggyhill · January 18, 2017 2:00PM

I doubt there is enough OLED (not the pentile Samsung variety) to satisfy Apple's volume.

If there is an OLED model it will be the highest end one.

gatorguy · January 18, 2017 2:07PM

foggyhill said:

I doubt there is enough OLED (not the pentile Samsung variety) to satisfy Apple's volume.

If there is an OLED model it will be the highest end one.

FWIW the current OLED display on Samsung higher-end models is exceptionally nice, and finding one on your next iPhone would not be a disappointment to you. If there's truth to the OLED/Apple rumor then it will almost certainly be using pentile architecture.

...And yes color can be tuned. It does not have to be saturated.

edited January 2017

slprescott · January 18, 2017 2:08PM

There are enough new-tech components in this (predicted) design that the inevitable rumors of "limited launch capacity due to component yield problems" are inevitable in August.

wood1208 · January 18, 2017 2:17PM

Three(5.8,5.5,4.7) larger iPhones in 2017. This makes iphone SE+ release in 2018 with trickle down iPhone 7 components. Looks like Apple covered most wanted sizes in smartphones.

macxpress · January 18, 2017 2:24PM

Based of supply chain data....well this totally and completely dismisses anything in this article right off. We all know how accurate supply chain data is.

rayz2016 · January 18, 2017 2:29PM

Never has one analyst thrown so much s**t at a wall in the desperate hope that something will stick. The only thing this idiot knows for sure is that the upcoming device will be vaguely phone-shaped. (Unless Apple can't get enough parts to make it phone-shaped, in which case it'll be shaped like a wombat.)

suddenly newton · January 18, 2017 2:42PM

Apple is thinking of a number from 1 to 10.
Analysts have said it could be 1 or 2. Others believe 8. Ming-chi Kuo has postulated that it could be 3 or 6, while concept renderings of the number 5 and 9 have been making it around the Internet. The supply chain whispers the number 4 or 7, although AppleInsider cannot confirm this.

But, anticipation is running high, and sales are dismal in anticipation that a new number will be chosen later this year, and it will be an edge-to-edge number. And the cycle can begin again next year in the noble profession of Apple number guessing.

[deleted user] · January 18, 2017 2:47PM

"wrap around screen" - can't think what benefit this brings at all. I've tried a colleague's galaxy edge and didn't "get it" at all.
"bezel-less" - again, for what benefit, the side bezel is hardly gargantuan. If it went right to the edges your palm/fingers would obstruct some of the readable screen when holding it.
"facial recognition" - for what purpose, apple does things to better the end user experience. If it's to unlock a device then that's not more intuitive nor quicker than simply holding your thumb on the homebutton or raising to wake which it already does.
"gesture recognition" - can't see any benefit in a phone, it's already in your hand why wave your other hand to do things when you can already tap the screen with that same hand

the other two mentioned;
"wireless charging" - to be useful it has to be better than current form which is not really wireless at all.
"TouchID in the screen" - I can envisage being useful for detecting who is using the phone at any time / security in general, but the tech barely seems ready for 2018 let alone a 2017 iPhone.

rogifan_new · January 18, 2017 2:53PM

sog35 said:

TOTAL BULLSHIT

I would not be surprised at all if Apple introduces a new, more expensive iPhone model with the existing 7 models upgraded to 7s models. The new model will be the only one with a new design and OLED screen and probably higher storage capacity too. It will be all about the upsell and anything Apple can do to raise iPhone ASPs. Maybe it will be called iPhone Pro to match iPad naming.

radarthekat · January 18, 2017 3:01PM

adm1 said:

"wrap around screen" - can't think what benefit this brings at all. I've tried a colleague's galaxy edge and didn't "get it" at all.
"bezel-less" - again, for what benefit, the side bezel is hardly gargantuan. If it went right to the edges your palm/fingers would obstruct some of the readable screen when holding it.
"facial recognition" - for what purpose, apple does things to better the end user experience. If it's to unlock a device then that's not more intuitive nor quicker than simply holding your thumb on the homebutton or raising to wake which it already does.
"gesture recognition" - can't see any benefit in a phone, it's already in your hand why wave your other hand to do things when you can already tap the screen with that same hand

the other two mentioned;
"wireless charging" - to be useful it has to be better than current form which is not really wireless at all.
"TouchID in the screen" - I can envisage being useful for detecting who is using the phone at any time / security in general, but the tech barely seems ready for 2018 let alone a 2017 iPhone.

I always laugh at that term, facial recognition. The ability to detect that a person has recently been to a spa. 😂

mike1 · January 18, 2017 3:28PM

I certainly hope that all the new tech and features will also be available in a phone with something smaller than a 5.8" screen. Just too large.

gatorguy · January 18, 2017 3:55PM

Few here would likely know that Samsung, the rumored Apple OLED supplier, has developed an extremely high pixel-count screen for use with AR/VR compatible devices. Pretty sure it comes in at over 800ppi. With all the noise coming from Apple about AR would it be possible that Apple might have an interest in that particular OLED display?

....Yes it too is supposedly pentile.

metriacanthosaurus · January 18, 2017 4:35PM

adm1 said:

"wrap around screen" - can't think what benefit this brings at all. I've tried a colleague's galaxy edge and didn't "get it" at all.
"bezel-less" - again, for what benefit, the side bezel is hardly gargantuan. If it went right to the edges your palm/fingers would obstruct some of the readable screen when holding it.
"facial recognition" - for what purpose, apple does things to better the end user experience. If it's to unlock a device then that's not more intuitive nor quicker than simply holding your thumb on the homebutton or raising to wake which it already does.
"gesture recognition" - can't see any benefit in a phone, it's already in your hand why wave your other hand to do things when you can already tap the screen with that same hand

the other two mentioned;
"wireless charging" - to be useful it has to be better than current form which is not really wireless at all.
"TouchID in the screen" - I can envisage being useful for detecting who is using the phone at any time / security in general, but the tech barely seems ready for 2018 let alone a 2017 iPhone.

People love to say things like this without offering the first clue on how it would work. I don't mean from a technical standpoint, I mean from a user experience standpoint. No one can ever explain to me what happens to Touch ID and the Home Button when it "goes away and becomes part of the screen"...but they love to shout about how its an overdue inevitability.

metriacanthosaurus · January 18, 2017 4:41PM

adm1 said:

"wrap around screen" - can't think what benefit this brings at all. I've tried a colleague's galaxy edge and didn't "get it" at all.

Oh and this one is my favorite. No one gets it. What happened was, in the run up to the release of iPhone 6 there were rampant rumors for a year about a "curved display". So Samsung rushed to market a device with a display that wraps around the edge. Then it turned out Apple was simply making curved GLASS to improve the edges of the device....and Samsung was left trying to peddle a feature that no one ever asked for and that no one understands.

tshapi · January 18, 2017 4:54PM

adm1 said:

"wrap around screen" - can't think what benefit this brings at all.

Apple iPhone has 3D Touch. This is would allow Apple to make the volume 3D Touch based control. As well as possibly the vibrator control above the volume.
With regards to the edge to edge bezeless screen. I have a 4.7" iPhone and I don't ever inadvertently touch my screen.

retrogusto · January 18, 2017 5:06PM

slprescott said:

There are enough new-tech components in this (predicted) design that the inevitable rumors of "limited launch capacity due to component yield problems" are inevitable in August.

I'm afraid those are inevitable anyway!

robin huber · January 18, 2017 5:28PM

sog35 said:

TOTAL BULLSHIT

For once I agree with you. First, it sounds like some solution in search of a problem that Samsung does. Second, wraparound edges will be as popular as 3D TV. Third, what good is a feature that is constantly partially obscured by your own fingers? When human faces evolve to concave, then being able to see the front and sides at the same time might have some utility.

foggyhill · January 18, 2017 6:04PM

suddenly newton said:

Apple is thinking of a number from 1 to 10.
Analysts have said it could be 1 or 2. Others believe 8. Ming-chi Kuo has postulated that it could be 3 or 6, while concept renderings of the number 5 and 9 have been making it around the Internet. The supply chain whispers the number 4 or 7, although AppleInsider cannot confirm this.

But, anticipation is running high, and sales are dismal in anticipation that a new number will be chosen later this year, and it will be an edge-to-edge number. And the cycle can begin again next year in the noble profession of Apple number guessing.

Very very good wit there.

badmonk · January 18, 2017 7:28PM

radarthekat said:

adm1 said:

"wrap around screen" - can't think what benefit this brings at all. I've tried a colleague's galaxy edge and didn't "get it" at all.
"bezel-less" - again, for what benefit, the side bezel is hardly gargantuan. If it went right to the edges your palm/fingers would obstruct some of the readable screen when holding it.
"facial recognition" - for what purpose, apple does things to better the end user experience. If it's to unlock a device then that's not more intuitive nor quicker than simply holding your thumb on the homebutton or raising to wake which it already does.
"gesture recognition" - can't see any benefit in a phone, it's already in your hand why wave your other hand to do things when you can already tap the screen with that same hand

the other two mentioned;
"wireless charging" - to be useful it has to be better than current form which is not really wireless at all.
"TouchID in the screen" - I can envisage being useful for detecting who is using the phone at any time / security in general, but the tech barely seems ready for 2018 let alone a 2017 iPhone.

I always laugh at that term, facial recognition. The ability to detect that a person has recently been to a spa. 😂

or porn set.

cyberzombie · January 18, 2017 9:34PM

I'd love to see a miniLCD display iPhone...but that likely is a few years away...

New supply chain reports lend weight to 'wraparound' 5.8-inch 'iPhone 8' with embedded sen...

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