2017 iPhone May Feature Edge-to-Edge Display With Embedded Touch ID Sensor, Front-Facing Camera

[delegagtor]

> now this is not really from the rumor mill but just scuttlebutt that I've heard

So, what's the difference between "scuttlebutt" and the rumor mill?

 

[Howyalikdemapls]

Who is skipping the iPhone 7 ?

We'll have to see how many of the rumors about the 2016 iPhone are true. We could be surprised this September.

 

[caesarp]

This looks awesome, but it would make most cases unusable and would make the phone so easy to break

I don't get the whole case thing. Never used one, not an issue. Most cases (other than hardcore work outside, otter box industrial cases) do NOTHING if the phone is dropped on its screen hitting a sharp heavy object at an angle (like a rock).

If you care about the back of your phone not getting a few dings, yeah a case might help. But in reality, it does little to protect from the screen cracking or shattering. Totally a myth. I don't understand the fascination with cases. They are not necessary or required.

Why would I want to make the sleek and light phone I just bought, heavier and thicker? I don't get the case thing people -- I just don't. Do people put cases on their apple watches -- no! The whole case thing just happened because of antenna gate -- that's over.

 

[pmau]

... unless the apple watch 2 kills it, they're in for a tough year.

I cannot see how the Watch (which I own) can ever be a killer because it is way to limited,
No app will ever let you say "Wow. I need the watch.". You could have the same on a small phone.

Sensors are not that important and I honestly don't know what exciting things should be measured.

Another issue (at least here in Europe) is, that the data tariffs are still expensive and limited.
Even if Apple would allow something interesting, you could not do it mobile if it requires lots of data.

Public WiFi is normally insecure and ******. Even with SSL, I would not trust a public WiFi.
They can store the traffic and have all the time they need to decrypt your data.

 

[v0lume4]

Concepts and rumors like this have historically been too good to be true. Here's to hoping this rumor IS true. Imagine an iPhone even close to what Gruber described. That's the iPhone that Apple needs right about now.

 

[mysterydate]

I'm holding out for a fully transparent aluminum phone, with integrated 4k projector, retina scanner, and 200G shock protection made with diamond screen with X-ray camera, low energy LIDAR mapping standard, illuminated apple logo, bluetooth charging and air cushion hover which holds the iPhone wherever you place it in space.

 

[blacktape242]

why wait until 2017? the lack of innovation this year has sucked!!!!

 

[ineedamac]

Concept image via ConceptsiPhone​

I love this mockup.

 

[Howyalikdemapls]

> now this is not really from the rumor mill but just scuttlebutt that I've heard

So, what's the difference between "scuttlebutt" and the rumor mill?

I'm guessing the rumor mill is where original rumors come from, and scuttlebutt is just repeating the same rumors that have already been spread around on sites like Macumors.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

I cannot see how the Watch (which I own) can ever be a killer because it is way to limited,
No app will ever let you say "Wow. I need the watch.". You could have the same on a small phone.

Sensors are not that important and I honestly don't know what exciting things should be measured.

Another issue (at least here in Europe) is, that the data tariffs are still expensive and limited.
Even if Apple would allow something interesting, you could not do it mobile if it requires lots of data.

Public WiFi is normally insecure and ******. Even with SSL, I would not trust a public WiFi.
They can store the traffic and have all the time they need to decrypt your data.

I'm thinking if apple puts a GPS and LTE chip into the watch with pretty much lifetime free data for apple services, that'd be a killer app.

 

[hellomant]

What about projectors and projection systems? Wouldn't that be a game changer? What about making the device a solid piece of glass, essentially making the entire phone completely clear when its not powered on? What about making the device as thin as a piece of paper, as well as making it flexible?

Those would all be game changers and substantial leaps in technology. Are we saying that those things are impossible? That they will never be done? Of course they will be eventually. Just a matter of when it happens.

Th problem lies with not what you could, but what you should put on a phone. These you called game changers are only great in theory/pictures, but not in reality.
A fully glass phone offers little to no real purpose, as well as way too many disadvantages. You will basically see light from behind the phone which would hinder your ability to read whatevers on the screen itself for no good reason. Not to mention there must be some parts of non transparent material on the phone to accomodate batterys, ports and what not. Even if it is techonologically possible i cant think use of it for vast majority of users.
Making your phone thin as paper shares similar problems with the glass scenrio. No one has any use for a foldable paper thin phone, and neither would physics allow it unless we have mutliple breakthroughs with all aspects of technology, for a feature who one is asking for.
Projector is also almost useless, with other drawbacks. However its current technologically possible. Can you tell me any practical use for this feature though?
It is not your fault for wanting a phone like the ones you suggested. Internet and movies seem to portray these holographic and transparent screens as a easy way to demonstrate a futuristic look without thinking about the actual practicality of them.
The next breakthrough for phones, as I see it, is not on hardware. It will be software. And it is AI. And it wont be just applied to your phone, but everything in your life. Once a consumer level AI can understand and perform whatever you ask them to do, then that would be the biggest breakthrough of humanity of the last hundred years.

 

[bchery21]

More and more reason to skip iPhone 7 (aka 6Ss)

Exactly. That's why I still have an iPhone 5 :/

 

[Iconoclysm]

Yeah right, even the camera lens, the proximity sensor and the front speaker are in the screen........this is never going to happen.

There has got to be a way to pull off the speaker in the screen without requiring a hole. Proximity sensor would be easy. Camera lens seems tricky...but the TouchID sensor has to be the most difficult of all.

 

[Apollonian]

My patience with Apple is wearing thin, their lack of innovation is amazing at this point. The next big update is always "a year away". Apple is a stagnant, huge company who has run out of ideas and hence spreading these incremental weak updates over a period of years. If this is the next iPhone they've lost my yearly upgrade.

 

[Stella]

Edge to Edge displays would be nice!

If apple released an iPhone7 looking like the mock up - drool!

 

[Michael Goff]

Rumors suggest Apple's 2016 iPhone 7 will look very similar to the iPhone 6s, with major changes to the iPhone's form factor actually coming in 2017, the year that marks the 10th anniversary of the device's initial launch. Apple blogger John Gruber recently shared some tantalizing details about the 2017 iPhone, which may see some radical design tweaks.

In the latest episode of his podcast The Talk Show, Gruber said he's heard "scuttlebutt" suggesting the 2017 iPhone will include an edge-to-edge display that eliminates the top and bottom bezels on the device, with the front-facing camera, Touch ID, and other sensors hidden under the display.

Concept image via ConceptsiPhone​

Previous rumors have indicated Apple is planning to introduce a flexible OLED display in the 2017 iPhone, and an OLED display panel would allow for an edge-to-edge screen design. Apple has already signed a deal with Samsung for a portion of the OLED panels it will need for the devices.

Multiple rumors have suggested one 2017 iPhone could include a 5.8-inch OLED display, which would perhaps mean Apple plans to have the display wrap around the edges of a 5.5-inch device, but it is not clear how such a screen size would work without top and bottom bezels as suggested by Gruber.

Along with an OLED display, the iPhone coming in 2017 is rumored to include a glass shell, like the iPhone 4 and 4s, rather than the aluminum body that's been used for the iPhone 5s, 6, 6s, 6 Plus, 6s Plus, and SE. Long-range wireless charging and expanded biometric features like iris or facial recognition are also features that have been rumored, along with a 10-nanometer A11 chip from TSMC and NAND flash memory supplied by Samsung.

Apple has been working on developing touch and display driver integration (TTDI) chips since 2015, which would let the Touch ID fingerprint recognition system be embedded directly into the display, allowing for the elimination of the Home button. Analyst rumors have previously suggested the Home button will be removed in the 2017 iPhone, in line with what Gruber has heard.

With Apple planning major design changes for the 2017 iPhone, there have been rumors indicating the devices will not feature an "S" name, with Apple perhaps skipping the iPhone 7s and 7s Plus to move directly to the iPhone 8 or another name.

Article Link: 2017 iPhone May Feature Edge-to-Edge Display With Embedded Touch ID Sensor, Front-Facing Camera

Ugh. Really hope it's nothing like this.

 

[Shlooky]

This probably won't be a 2017 model since the 7s would be released then. This would apply more for iPhone 8 in 2018 not 2017.

 

[barkomatic]

I don't understand how a speaker can be behind a display--unless there is a hole as shown? That would kinda compromise the full screen mode when watching videos right?

 

[BornAgainMac]

I noticed having the display on the edge makes it easy to turn the page by accident when reading.

 

[Michael Goff]

I don't understand how a speaker can be behind a display--unless there is a hole as shown? That would kinda compromise the full screen mode when watching videos right?

Bingo.

But everyone here acts like there should be no bezel at all. Usability suffers while they drool over aesthetics.

 

[The Game 161]

so basically got to wait two years to have the phone that looks and is great. It's why all those features are waiting for 2017 I already have with my S7 edge. Better be worth the wait apple

 

[Michael Goff]

I noticed having the display on the edge makes it easy to turn the page by accident when reading.

And yet people here keep raving for Apple to do it for some reason.

 

[ChrisCW11]

So far nobody has been able to do this without some "bezel" even at a few millimeters and since Apple is not a display manufacture or innovator I doubt this is coming. I think LG or Samsung or one of the display manufactures would have been boasting about this by now. Apple can dream up all the things they want, but they are still largely an OEM company that has to rely on off-the-shelf parts from 3rd parties to make their products.

I am sure Apple might try and remove as much bezel as possible, including the top and bottom useless sections of iPhone, but I don't think you are going to see a screen where displayable pixels end right at the edge.

The second thing that needs to happen is for Apple to implement some major OS changes to support edge touch detection so that it knows the difference between holding the phone or a finger partially on the side of the screen vs actually trying to interact with the screen. Even today with iOS 9.3 this is not a feature as if my thumb is even partially touching the edge of my iPad screen I can't do anything proper until I move it, for instance, it registers as two finger touch and will try to scale.

Not saying that Apple doesn't, hopefully, have some big design changes for iPhone, but with the fanboi photo attached to this article, that ain't happening.

 

[Statelymwhite]

Would be nice, but nothing I need. I really needed a bigger screen, and now that I have it I'm happy. I have no plans on upgrading.

 

[hellomant]

Yay! Now I'll have to use my phone sitting flat on my hand so multitouch doesn't get confused about my gripping hand holding the phone. Seriously, go try and hold a GS6 Edge and use it with any part of your fingers touching the sides.

People who like this have no grasp on reality...

exactly... A lot of people want things without thinking how practical things can be, just because random "prediction" images look cool. Not to mention if the corners are curved then all existing apps must adjust accordingly for no benefits at all.
I encourage everyone here to think of a PRACTICAL feature that Apple can add on their phone. Chances are they are considering it or already developing it.