Another 'iPhone 8' Design Schematic Shows Vertical Dual Camera and Touch ID on Back of Aluminum Casing

[willmtaylor]

I intentionally paid attention to where my fingers naturally land on the rear casing of my iPhone 7 when I pick it up, and guess what? My index finger almost always lands just below the Apple.

I can promise you, Touch ID will not be on the back.

Well...if you promise it!

 

[LEGOApple]

What if it's actually for iPhone 7s not 8.

 

[Rogifan]

I would normally dismiss these rumours but boy... yet another alleged Touch ID on the back is really getting me worried. That would be a colossal design failure if Apple go this route. If Touch ID on the screen isn't possible yet, I'd much rather they waited until it was.

I'm hoping that Apple are releasing lots of fake design specifications, so they can try to whittle down who are leaking the specs. Really, really hoping.

It's a no-sale for me if it's on the back of the phone but what is going to be worse for Apple - Touch ID on the back or 7-era bezels? I would take the bezels in a heartbeat but Apple would get crucified in the tech press if the new iPhone doesn't have smaller bezels. And we know Apple will never release a phone with asymmetrical bezels. The Verge gave the Galaxy S8 a 9 even though the fingerprint sensor placement has been criticized across the board. 2017 is all about smaller bezels.

 

[brendu]

Not even just that: Apple Pay will suffer. It'd be extremely cumbersome to put out against the debit terminal with your finger between the phone and the debit machine.

Lol what? It would work fine. You don't have to lay your phone flat on the terminal...

 

[AppleWarMachine]

the touch ID should be built in right under the Apple logo on the back (good spot)

 

[MikhailT]

I'm perfectly okay with Touch ID on the back as long as they've removed the bezels, so the larger screens are closer to SE/5S size than it is now. A lot of people have switched to SE because 6/7 was just too big.

 

[DeathChill]

Lol what? It would work fine. You don't have to lay your phone flat on the terminal...

I'm not saying it wouldn't work. I'm saying it would be awkward and uncomfortable. To be fair, I've never tested exactly how close the phone needs to be but I'm imagining it needs to be fairly close.

 

[slimothy]

LOL. No this will not be the iPhone 8.

 

[iReality85]

This might not be for the iPhone Edition, but instead what Apple plans on updating the 7 Plus to. Hence, the aluminum housing.

Hey, at least the back Touch ID sensor is in a better location than the S8's.

Also of note: the back camera flash appears to be located outside of the camera lens module, as opposed to recent rumors where the flash for the iPhone Edition would be situated between the two back lens.

 

[sunapple]

Every Apple product includes compromises. Even your very favorite (whatever that is).

You're absolutely right, way too many examples of bad design in Apple's history.

Oh well, the GS8 has it on the back next to the camera which is crap as well, but the phone is still very awesome. Let's hope Apple makes a better decision regarding TouchID placement.

 

[brendu]

I'm not saying it wouldn't work. I'm saying it would be awkward and uncomfortable. To be fair, I've never tested exactly how close the phone needs to be but I'm imagining it needs to be fairly close.

I use it every day. I promise this would not be an issue at all. It would not be awkward or uncomfortable at all. It's more awkward to use it on the watch where you have to twist your wrist upside down to use it.

 

[Rob_2811]

No issues at all for me if they put it on the back. Much better design choice than having a phone with a sub 70% screen to body ratio. Touch ID on the current 7/7plus doesn't work well when laid on a flat surface anyway.

Im sure the 7s/7s Plus will retain the gigantic 2014 esque bezels for those who don't like the Touch ID sensor on the back.

 

[Threejw]

Why can't they combine the apple logo with touch id... it'll look better...

 

[BulkSlash]

I'm looking at the Galaxy S8 Plus in a shop at the moment and it's really gorgeous, but the finger print reader on the back is a major fail. I really, really hope Apple aren't going down this route.

 

[Pfunstuff]

I don't typically pay much attention to rumors until they start being released more frequently and closer to the expected launch date. However, this one concerns me since it was released by Sonny Dickson. If memory serves me correctly, he has typically been accurate with his leaks. I hope, as others have said, that this is a fake design schematic to throw people off or that there's possibly a different purpose for that cutout. I have to agree with most that the placement of Touch ID on the back would be poor placement. If it's not ready to be implemented under the display, leave it where it is. I'll gladly opt for convenience over a larger screen until it's ready to be done properly.

On the upside, the sides appear to be flat like the 5S which would be a welcomed back addition. The curved sides are just too slippery.

As another poster alluded to, it would be kind of funny to see Apple include keynote slides showing us how Touch ID was moved to the back only to have the next slide say something along the lines of, "You didn't really think we were going to put it on the back, did you?"

 

[Rogifan]

Here's Walt Mossberg's response to is the GS8 better than the Pixel. So basically screw usability and user experience all that matters is smaller bezels. If that isn't the definition of aesthetics over functionality I don't know what is.

Short answer: Better in terms of screen size/body ratio and lack of bezels. Worse in terms of biometrics, one-handed use, & software bloat.

 

[Rob_2811]

I bet that on the back is for Wireless charging not for Touch ID.

Why would you need anything on the phone for wireless charging? The charging happens via induction there is no need for a connector of any kind thats the point.

 

[otternonsense]

I'm resigned to believe this is it, nagged by the knowledge that all Apple devices of years past have been flush with compromise, and accustomed to pretty much every lacklustre leak eventually making it into the final product.

Weren't it for iOS, macOS and iCloud lock-in, brand (a.k.a. Steve) loyalty and sheer habit, we'd all be goners.

I seriously doubt that Tim's pencil-pushing Apple can surprise users with an elegant fingerprint solution on time. They might as well come up with a TouchID dongle and a handful of watchbands.

They didn't even bother redesigning their flagship i-product for its customary 2year cycle and they throw a fit like an arrogant hare caught in the headlights of "constant negativity", while the other turtles of the industry have leapt forward.

Coulda woulda shoulda doesn't cut it anymore.

 

[iReality85]

Touch ID on the current 7/7plus doesn't work well when laid on a flat surface anyway.

Can you elaborate? I have no issue with using Touch ID when my 7 Plus is laying on my work desk.

Seems to me a sensor on the back is less convenient, since you have to pick up the phone every time to unlock it.

 

[DeathChill]

I use it every day. I promise this would not be an issue at all. It would not be awkward or uncomfortable at all. It's more awkward to use it on the watch where you have to twist your wrist upside down to use it.

I use it everyday as well. I imagine the watch would be uncomfortable to use for that purpose but testing how you'd hold it if Touch ID was on the back seems to put an uncomfortable strain on my wrist versus the natural way I hold my phone at the moment when I pay.

However, these are the very definition of first world problems and I obviously haven't used this phone so a real life test would be necessary. I also don't think it's the worst thing in the world but it's an obvious worse solution than what exists now.

 

[blcamp]

Oh hell no. Won't be "upgrading" to THAT.

 

[kidaje]

Hos ugly this iphone model is and how beautifull the xiaomi m6 is.

 

[MRNopers]

That sensor sits way too low. How would you reach it when holding it normally? I would say, it's the magnetic connector for charging like on the Watch.

That's an interesting idea... This sketch looks like there's no seam between the sides and the back so I guess it could be entirely stainless steel instead of glass on glass and that is just a way to add wireless charging. Black stainless steel from the Apple Watch would be sexy AF.

 

[keysofanxiety]

It's a no-sale for me if it's on the back of the phone but what is going to be worse for Apple - Touch ID on the back or 7-era bezels? I would take the bezels in a heartbeat but Apple would get crucified in the tech press if the new iPhone doesn't have smaller bezels. And we know Apple will never release a phone with asymmetrical bezels. The Verge gave the Galaxy S8 a 9 even though the fingerprint sensor placement has been criticized across the board. 2017 is all about smaller bezels.

Very true. However I trust Apple's long term vision, and I can't see that Touch ID on the back to compensate for no bezels is part of that vision.

You're right that 2017 is all about tiny bezels. But in some ways it's no different to previous years being all about touchscreen laptops, or flip phones before that, or phones that get smaller and smaller. Apple have been around long enough to see the ebb and flow of gimmicks, features, and the next 'new thing'.

I'm sure they will stick to their larger vision and maintain their discipline.

 

[ValO]

Or, its Apple leaking fake design templates to pinpoint who the leakers are.

I heard that before....
And we exactly got an iphone that looked like the leaks, every time.
Perhaps all the rumors we are hearing are about the iphone 8, that will be released next year, and these are the rumors of the 7s pro that will be released this year.