Alleged chassis for Apple's 'iPhone 8' revives claims of rear-mounted Touch ID
A leaked metal chassis, purportedly for this fall's "iPhone 8," may suggest that Apple is indeed planning to put a Touch ID sensor on the rear of the device -- though the part conflicts with other recent rumors.
The chassis, which appeared in photos on Baidu, includes a conspicuous hole below the Apple logo that's roughly the size of the Touch ID sensor on the iPhone 7. Its placement is consistent with a few past leaks, and also where fingerprint sensors are located on some rival Android devices like the Google Pixel.
As is usual with "iPhone 8" images, the part includes a vertically-aligned rear camera.
Most recent ones, however, include no rear Touch ID sensor. If the sensor isn't embedded in the OLED display, it could be built into the sleep/wake button, or even replaced by 3D facial recognition -- assuming that technology is ready in time.
One possibility is that the chassis is from an abandoned prototype. Multiple reports have claimed production problems with embedding Touch ID into the display, and the company may have produced alternate designs as a fallback.
The "iPhone 8" is expected to feature an edge-to-edge, 5.8-inch OLED screen replacing a physical home button with a virtual one. Aside from 3D facial recognition, it may also include upgrades like wireless charging and a rear-facing laser for augmented reality and fast autofocus.
The chassis, which appeared in photos on Baidu, includes a conspicuous hole below the Apple logo that's roughly the size of the Touch ID sensor on the iPhone 7. Its placement is consistent with a few past leaks, and also where fingerprint sensors are located on some rival Android devices like the Google Pixel.
As is usual with "iPhone 8" images, the part includes a vertically-aligned rear camera.
Most recent ones, however, include no rear Touch ID sensor. If the sensor isn't embedded in the OLED display, it could be built into the sleep/wake button, or even replaced by 3D facial recognition -- assuming that technology is ready in time.
One possibility is that the chassis is from an abandoned prototype. Multiple reports have claimed production problems with embedding Touch ID into the display, and the company may have produced alternate designs as a fallback.
The "iPhone 8" is expected to feature an edge-to-edge, 5.8-inch OLED screen replacing a physical home button with a virtual one. Aside from 3D facial recognition, it may also include upgrades like wireless charging and a rear-facing laser for augmented reality and fast autofocus.
Comments
Almost all the rumors point to a device with a glass back. This is not it!
If Apple did put touch ID on the rear I'd conclude they were completely lost design wise culturally. It's literally not possible to me that this will be rear Touch ID. It goes against everything they stand for as a company and anyone suggesting this even may be the case or who make excuses for why Apple would do this (before we know) clearly doesn't understand Apple. Also, what if this design is iPhone 7s? Where the main differentiator between 7s and 8 is OLED, glass rear and full screen display?
Nope, this is pure Apple. They didn't want anyone to see a hole in the surface of the mouse, in much the same way that they put all the ports on the back of the iMac so no one would see a hole in the front.
Why?
These images are old, we saw them and discussed them several weeks ago.
Here is the fundamental issue with the design, it puts the touch ID in middle of where the battery fits, In order for this to work Apple would have to change how the battery fits in the package. Touch ID need a logic board of sorts and that will get in the way of the battery. I do not think Apple would shrink the batter to put this in the middle of the back, this is also why Samsung and others who have done the same put it near the top and not where the batteries will be.
I think we seeing someone who is playing around with a CNC machine and trying to foul everyone.
Mmmm.
No, it's definitely a hole-hiding thing.