iPhone 8 Concepts Explore How Apple Could Hide or 'Embrace' the Display's Sensor Notch

[robduckett14]

That third image is the best way forward. A phone no longer needs to display the time as the Apple Watch now has that responsibility.

Not everybody has an Apple Watch. I mean yeah that would be ok for those that do have one though

 

[amirite]

Time will go into control center

 

[RickInHouston]

Someone at Apple is either pointing at these mockups and just laughing

Or their like "DAMN NO"

Maybe more like, "Do they not know that tech isn't even possible today?"

 

[jarman92]

I am wondering why we have not seen any leaks of the iPhone 7s and only the "iPhone 8"

Is it because they share the same formfactor, and the difference would be bezel-less & oled for the iPhone 8 and Home button for the iPhone 7s?

I’m wondering the same. I just can’t imagine a world where Apple is selling a majority of their iPhones with a four-year-old design (big bezels, LCD, etc.) at the same price point Samsung is selling phones with no bezels, AMOLED, wireless charging, iris scanning, facial recognition, etc. Either the whole lineup gets a redesign, the price for the “7s” goes down, or the “8” won’t be as expensive as everyone thinks. (Or Tim Cook is out of his mind lol)
[doublepost=1501791464][/doublepost]

If it's such a struggle to accommodate the notch in the UI, maybe the notch just isn't a good idea?

If “bezel-less” means an awkward notch, rounded screen corners, and no Touch ID, I’ll take bezels any day.

 

[Asclepio]

this is shiet

 

[Tech198]

I really dislike the first mockup; nothing like reducing the physical bezel and home button… and then adding them back in with software.

At least if u'r gonna do the button virtual like don't make it round.... The doors are open in software, but Apple wants to limit themselves to a round button that was in electronics? I never get that...

 

[Mascots]

I think Apple is probably going to forego the idea of a round home button rendered on screen.

It's trying to cling onto a old concept with a new medium and Apple really doesn't care to try and keep old ideas around just because. This is a time for them to think outside the box, and they tend to surprise in those cases.

 

[ovo6]

Ugly and basic , starting to like the apple way more

 

[9594864]

In your opinion. I kinda like it, other posters here like it, the new iPhone icon discovered in the HomePod software proudly shows it. It's a little like the camera bump – if you can't avoid it, own/embrace it.

Also your "symmetry" theory doesn't really work as the bottom blacked out area would be much bigger than the top black area. To me, the design with the notch showing actually looks (a little) more symmetrical because then the bezels on all 4 sides match up and only the notch "intrudes".

Ether way, I can really see Apple/Jony go both ways. If I had to bet, I'd think it's slightly more probable that the top and bottom will be blacked out most of the time, but I'm absolutely not sure. Would be fun if the user had a choice!

False. My symmetry theory is perfect. You see, it's my belief that the status bar black bar goes below the cutout by 1/8". It's not just the base of the cutout. The status bar will remain in a single line directly below the cutout and the left and right corners will have new elements. You cannot fit the status bar in the top left and right corners, that's a fact. The only way they could do it is if they got rid of about 80% of the possible elements that currently occupy the status bar, and once you do that, you might as well eliminate the status bar completely. This is why the status bar will remain in a single line directly below the cutout.

The bottom black bar will be symmetrical to this.

 

[jplucinsky]

Because of the lack of Touch ID most likely I’ll upgrade to the iPhone 7s

If only 7s would have it

 

[jimbobb24]

Lack of Touch ID would require Apple to rewrite their Apple Pay agreement, which means that every retailer and every bank would have to agree to the new one. Remember how long it took for some to get on Apple Pay in the first place? It'd be a huge problem for millions of users while we waited for all of them to accept such a change.

I just don't see them completely leaving Touch ID, especially considering they just added it to the MBP. If they were transitioning away from it to a camera-based system, why put in the work to add it to the MBP, only to remove it and have to integrate the new system a year later?

I agree with this and hope they do not abandon it but this argument assumes that TouchID is part of the contract. The contract could specify some form of industry approved biometric measure to protect the devices. Does anyone have proof TouchID is part of the contract?

 

[SeenJeen]

Where is the clock going to go?

Your wrist.

 

[0098386]

A simple watch has had that responsibility for decades. Just saying.

True, but they weren’t as good as the Apple Watch.

 

[Glasgowuk]

Because of the lack of Touch ID most likely I’ll upgrade to the iPhone 7s

Perhaps you should wait until Apple unveils the new product and explain the new technology before making any conclusion...

 

[Sheppard]

I'm still not sold on the notch.

 

[macfacts]

This is so dumb. Who cares about some random graphic designer thoughts on what Apple could do. Unless this is a mock-up based on a leak (like 9to5Mac’s mockups before iOS 7 was announced) who cares?

If some random designer thought of this and it turns out to be what Apple releases, then it shows Mr Ive isn't that special.

 

[Zaft]

Dedicating the top to signal bars, wifi, etc is the right move in this case. I can see the carrier name going away.

 

[ghostface147]

Just weird without the time at top.

 

[Larry The L]

No touch ID, no purchase. If apple doesn't include touch ID, the phone will fail spectacularly. Trust me. I know this for a fact. I can think of at least 5 situations where touch ID would work, but facial recognition will fail. the iphone 8 will be apple's downfall. I'm very sure of it.

 

[JosephAW]

This iPhone will have the best feature: No carrier name!

So true. I know who my carrier is and it's no one else's business to know. Frees up so much space.

 

[QueenTyrone]

Lack of Touch ID would require Apple to rewrite their Apple Pay agreement, which means that every retailer and every bank would have to agree to the new one. Remember how long it took for some to get on Apple Pay in the first place? It'd be a huge problem for millions of users while we waited for all of them to accept such a change.

I just don't see them completely leaving Touch ID, especially considering they just added it to the MBP. If they were transitioning away from it to a camera-based system, why put in the work to add it to the MBP, only to remove it and have to integrate the new system a year later?

I think they expect those who actually get the 8 to sacrifice just due to the fact they will sell more 7s/7s+ than 8s. So there's really no need to rewrite nor change anything.

 

[McTool]

This iPhone needs dark mode.

 

[9594864]

Time will go into control center

Time will be in the center top of the display, like always. There will never be an action required to see the time. It needs to be glanceable 95% of the time.
[doublepost=1501796938][/doublepost]

No touch ID, no purchase. If apple doesn't include touch ID, the phone will fail spectacularly. Trust me. I know this for a fact. I can think of at least 5 situations where touch ID would work, but facial recognition will fail. the iphone 8 will be apple's downfall. I'm very sure of it.

I still believe Touch ID will be on the bottom face of the device. Facial recognition will be augmentative to it, not a replacement. That's my belief.
[doublepost=1501797054][/doublepost]

Just weird without the time at top.

Yeah how bad are these concepts that the artist doesn't understand that 1 billion people know that the time goes in the center, top of the iPhone display for glanceable time. It's fundamental and cannot change. It will be in the center top of the display.
[doublepost=1501797330][/doublepost]

True, but they weren’t as good as the Apple Watch.

About 3% of iPhone owners have an Apple Watch. Now think about your suggestion again. Now realize that in no way whatsoever will the Apple Watch ever replace functionality of the iPhone. In this case, the glanceable time in the status bar. It will be there, and that's a guarantee.

 

[jimbo1mcm]

For the love of God, please do NOT "embrace the notch," Apple. The lack of symmetry, and awkward screen shape that would result, would not be very Apple-like, IMO. How would that look playing video...or taking photos?

I think putting essential status info up there in white, with a black background, is definitely the way to go and would look super polished and smooth. When the phone is held in landscape mode, like when viewing or recording video, simply black out that strip entirely.

Just my $0.02, but I hope I'm right.

Symmetry and Apple are mutually exclusive. It is function over form. Could the lopsided vertical camera lens on the back be any worse?

 

[NBAasDOGG]

To sell more MBPs. Duh.

Jokes aside: There is no way Apple is walking away from TouchID. Suggesting otherwise is laughable. Evolving TouchID? Sure. That's inevitable. But walking away? Not a chance. I suggest they are likely expanding the approved input methods for accessing the secure enclave to include some form of FacialID/RetinalID. And as long as these new input methods work at least as well as (if not better than) TouchID, I see no harm in additional methods. But any compromise in that trusted experience would be an absolute nightmare for Apple - one I don't see them walking into.

Regarding these mock ups: I've been digging concepts that implement a thin, black bar across the top to better "hide" the drop down area that looks to house the camera and other sensors. Leaving those awkward white spaces on either side of the drop down tab seems kludgy. Just hasn't felt right. It will be interesting to see how Apple implements an edge-to-edge screen into their UX.

Did you ever imagine they would remove the 3.5mm headphone jack? It didn't make my life easier, but I could life with it.
Obviously, I will survive if they decide to remove TouchID, but it won't make our life easier!