Home button on back?

[MrXiro]

You think Apple will ever move the Home button and fingerprint sensor to the back of the phone?

If they do that they can thin out the top and bottom bezels and thus make a smaller footprint on the phone. It'd definitely make the 5.5 inch model a little less unwieldy.

Just a thought.

 

[Honey Badger]

You think Apple will ever move the Home button and fingerprint sensor to the back of the phone?

No.

 

[KuchiKopi]

You think Apple will ever move the Home button and fingerprint sensor to the back of the phone?

If they do that they can thin out the top and bottom bezels and thus make a smaller footprint on the phone. It'd definitely make the 5.5 inch model a little less unwieldy.

Just a thought.

That would be the ugliest franken-phone imaginable. If Apple did this, I'd move to Android on day one.

 

[heisenberg123]

if you look at the inside of the phone there is not a lot of wasted space, the home button is not the only thing in the bottom area, and the top has 2 cameras and a ear piece

the battery is already too small to some people and the current battery fills the whole space between the top and bottom bezel

not sure its doable

 

[MrXiro]

That would be the ugliest franken-phone imaginable. If Apple did this, I'd move to Android on day one.

I can think of a few Android phones that already have the fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone. think about it... there is a lot of bezel at the top and bottom of the phone. You can have a shorter phone that is almost all screen but still properly proportioned.

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if you look at the inside of the phone there is not a lot of wasted space, the home button is not the only thing in the bottom area, and the top has 2 cameras and a ear piece

the battery is already too small to some people and the current battery fills the whole space between the top and bottom bezel

not sure its doable

Well with a new design would be new placement of parts, also they'd probably just shrink the die of the processor down some more for better battery life. Not to mention the "Plus" models have more than enough battery life currently.

They could also give the Home button less "throw" so it doesn't push down as far...

My thought is just that they're probably not going to go too much thinner with these phones... but look into shrinking the bezels and foot print.

 

[darngooddesign]

...and fingerprint sensor to the back of the phone?

It would be pretty awkward scanning your thumb while looking at the screen for confirmation.

 

[mercuryjones]

You think Apple will ever move the Home button and fingerprint sensor to the back of the phone?

If they do that they can thin out the top and bottom bezels and thus make a smaller footprint on the phone. It'd definitely make the 5.5 inch model a little less unwieldy.

Just a thought.

They will either go this route, or figure out a way to integrate the fingerprint reader into the display itself.

 

[sonicrobby]

It would be pretty awkward scanning your thumb while looking at the screen for confirmation.

or use your index... which would be placed behind the phone anyway...

 

[darngooddesign]

or use your index... which would be placed behind the phone anyway...

So have a solution that is only convenient with one finger?

The top and the bottom bezels really don't bother me so I'm fine with it the way it is although integrating the scanner in the display sounds really cool.

 

[sonicrobby]

So have a solution that is only convenient with one finger?

The top and the bottom bezels really don't bother me so I'm fine with it the way it is although integrating the scanner in the display sounds really cool.

Im just saying, why would you assume to only use your thumb? Any of the other 4 fingers would be viable for a scanner on the back.

 

[myscrnnm]

Seems like a step backwards to me. By having the fingerprint reader on the front, I can unlock my phone even when it's resting on a desk or table. And the top and bottom bezels are there for a reason; so you can rest your thumbs there when holding the phone, especially in landscape mode.

I'm all for making the bezels slightly slimmer (since almost every other phone out there has done so), but I don't think you need to move the fingerprint reader to the back to accomplish this.

 

[MrXiro]

Seems like a step backwards to me. By having the fingerprint reader on the front, I can unlock my phone even when it's resting on a desk or table. And the top and bottom bezels are there for a reason; so you can rest your thumbs there when holding the phone, especially in landscape mode.

I'm all for making the bezels slightly slimmer (since almost every other phone out there has done so), but I don't think you need to move the fingerprint reader to the back to accomplish this.

I do tend to do this too. Unlocking while the phone is on a desk... though they could also implement something like the double tap on the screen and unlock via passcode which is still around when you swipe right on the home screen.

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This article I read has some interesting features too in regards to fingerprint sensors. The phone itself has it on the back, but that isn't the point of the article.

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/131...ingerprint-to-change-the-world-of-smartphones

 

[iPH0NE 3GS]

Ugly f^^^! iPhone yet

 

[ET iPhone Home]

Please do the world a favor and don't ever take up product design.

 

[scaredpoet]

I can think of a few Android phones that already have the fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone.

Yes, and they are neither popular nor ergonomic.

think about it... there is a lot of bezel at the top and bottom of the phone.

i guess that depends on your definition of "a lot." If you look at the progression of the the front face of iPhone models over the life the product line, bezels have shrunken quite a bit.

You can have a shorter phone that is almost all screen but still properly proportioned.

And this boils down to something purely subjective: Is "all screen" really a good thing? I don't think it is... I prefer to have something my fingers can grip on to without accidentally activating something on the screen. This is why the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge feels like a bad idea. I can easily see my fingers gripping the edge of the phone and interacting when I don't want it to.

My thought is just that they're probably not going to go too much thinner with these phones... but look into shrinking the bezels and foot print.

There can certainly be more shaving of the size of the bezel. Whether that makes sense is a matter of individual taste I guess. Personally I don't like the idea of having to reaching around the back of my phone to get my fingerprint scanned, when the back is currently something I almost never look at when I'm using my phone.

 

[ravage73]

no. i had the lg g3 and while it was innovative, it just wasnt practical for everyday use.
it would be cool to make the whole screen the fingerprint sensor.

 

[vgamedude]

I want very tiny front home button, maybe even capacitive and the fingerprint scanner to be the apple logo on the back.

 

[MrXiro]

Please do the world a favor and don't ever take up product design.

Why do you feel the need to be a jerk? Was merely entertaining a thought. Do me a favor and don't post to me ever again.

 

[Mr. Buzzcut]

1. NO!
2. The phone only has one bezel - the frame around the screen.

Not everyone cradles their phone the same way. It's crazy to design to a single hand position. If you make 30 different phones I guess that's okay but that's not Apple.

I too poke at my phone while it sits on a table. Sensor on the back would not work for me at all.

 

[SMIDG3T]

No.

This. If anything it'll be embedded into the screen, Touch ID in a couple of years time. Then they can get rid of the bezels while they're at it too.

 

[meistervu]

Please do the world a favor and don't ever take up product design.

On the contrary, this sort of thinking outside the box is what lead to innovation. If you don't have crazy ideas, then you should not take up product design.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Sounds like the OP wants something like the LG G3. Most reviews seem to be pretty positive about the positioning of the on/off switch and volume rocker.

 

[cloudsup]

I had the G2 and while i eventually got used to the back buttons, it took a while. They won't be right for everyone so it's good that there are plenty of other high end Android options for people who weren't into the back buttons.

If Apple wanted to create a phone with back buttons they'd have to offer a regular option as well if they wanted to keep sales up. I don't see it ever happening.

 

[iThingsGurl]

Chances are, Apple (and others) will figure out a way to integrate finger print sensor with the display in the near future. Then they can either have a full screen device with a virtual home button (like CarPlay) or they can move the home button to the side replicating Apple Watch's Crown.

 

[Judas1]

Why are people saying that it'll be ugly? The sensor is going to be in the back, hidden, and it'll look like the home button. The only issue is if it will work ergonomically. The answer is yes. Using your thumb to press the home button one handed is awkward. Having your index finger on the back of the phone is natural.