iPhone 8 Without Touch ID Doubtfully Called One 'Likely Option' if Apple Can't Place It Under Display

[MacRumors]

Apple may be forced to eliminate Touch ID from the tentatively named "iPhone 8" altogether if it cannot resolve issues with integrating the fingerprint sensor underneath the smartphone's display within the next month or so, according to Andy Hargreaves, equity research analyst at Pacific Crest Securities.

"iPhone X" concept by designer Gabor Balogh​

Hargreaves isn't the first analyst to think Apple could do away with Touch ID, but the move seems unlikely even as a last-ditch scenario. Touch ID is at the core of Apple Pay, and it appears much more likely that 3D facial or iris recognition would complement rather than replace fingerprint sensing.

A more likely option fielded by Hargreaves is that Apple could delay "iPhone 8" production until its under-display fingerprint sensor solution is ready.

An excerpt from his research note obtained by MacRumors:

Likely options for Apple include a delay of production or elimination of fingerprint sensing on the OLED iPhone. We believe Apple continues to work on solving its optical fingerprint issues. If it's able to solve the problems in the next month or so, it would likely place volume orders at that point. This would likely lead to a delay of the OLED iPhone launch, but we would not expect it to meaningfully affect volume for the cycle. If it's not able to fix the problems in that time frame, Apple may be forced to eliminate fingerprint sensing from the OLED iPhone altogether.

At this point, Hargreaves does not believe Apple's optical fingerprint module provider has received firm orders for production, which to him suggests that Apple does not have functionality of the optical fingerprint sensor ready. Additionally, he said Apple has evaluated and passed on Synaptics' optical fingerprint solution.

Last week, Cowen and Company analyst Timothy Arcuri said Apple is facing yield issues with its AuthenTec-based under-display fingerprint sensor solution. He too speculated that Apple could remove Touch ID, but he believes it's more likely that Apple will put Touch ID on the back of the iPhone or delay production.

If Touch ID were to be removed, Hargreaves said that would place significant pressure on unproven 3D sensing to replace the verification functionality that fingerprints currently provide. However, he said Apple's 3D sensing production appears on track, and could be a viable alternative to fingerprints.

Suppliers suggest that the solution is both fast and highly reliable, even in low-light scenarios or from odd angles. If this proves accurate, reliance solely on 3D sensing for biometric login and verification could be a viable and innovative replacement for the highly popular fingerprint sensor.

In February, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the "iPhone 8" will feature a "revolutionary" front-facing camera system with infrared for fully-featured 3D sensing capabilities. The advancements will enable the camera to determine the location and depth of objects placed in front of it.

Pacific Crest Securities maintains a $150 price target for AAPL with an overweight rating.

Article Link: iPhone 8 Without Touch ID Doubtfully Called One 'Likely Option' if Apple Can't Place It Under Display

 

[zorinlynx]

Touch ID is my favorite iPhone feature. It blows my mind anyone would think they'd get rid of it.

 

[PJWilkin]

No Touch-ID ?
Then I suspect no Apple-Pay

in which case, No Chance

 

[sshambles]

Where is Steve's reality distortion field when you need it...

 

[Andres Cantu]

You'd think that after three years of the same design they would have done adequate planning to avoid delays.

 

[cchanlatte]

Impossible. Required for Apple Pay security.

 

[DUIduckSAUCE]

Jobs would never allow this.

 

[MellowFuzz]

If only they had other new products to announce instead... oh wait, Tim Cook has deigned all other Apple products unworthy of attention for the last 4 years!

 

[codewrangler]

Asinine...Apple pay doesn't work without Touch ID...iPhone 8 CAN'T ship without it...

 

[Munky]

If only they had other new products to announce instead... oh wait, Tim Cook has deigned all other Apple products unworthy of attention for the last 4 years!

Oh yeah, I'm sure Tim Cook is in the design studio with Jonny Ive.

 

[killawat]

Apple is sitting on massive cash reserves and have shown time and time again that they're willing to delay as long as required for the end product.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

No Touch-ID ?
Then I suspect no Apple-Pay

in which case, No Chance

Exactly. Apple has put a ton of money, time, and effort into building Apple Pay. They aren't going to give it up.

 

[rudychidiac]

It's highly possible for Tim cook to release an iphone without Touch ID. since deep down he knows that it'll sell like hot cakes, nothing else matters

 

[rizzo41999]

These guys, all over the place

 

[Ed217]

If there were a second verified security approach already in place (something like facial recognition), then this might be possible. Since there is none, its not.

 

[keysofanxiety]

All of these crazy rumours completely go out the window once you take away some arbitrary 10th anniversary timescale which they're desperate to hit.

No bezel, touch ID built into the display. That's what they'd want to release. If it's ready in time, they'll release it. If they can't crack the formula yet, they won't ship a half-baked product, and they'll simply release the iPhone 7S instead.

 

[Porco]

I don't get the apparent obsession with getting rid of a tiny amount of front bezel which is actually useful to hold the phone in a way that means you can see the whole display, and also means you can have a satisfying physical button. Especially before they've even removed the long-functionless chin from the iMac.

 

[Derekuda]

No Touch-ID ?
Then I suspect no Apple-Pay

in which case, No Chance

LOL, that's pretty pathetic if you would pass on a phone just because you can't make purchases on it at the less then 30% of retails that still carry it. (That number is probably going to shrink as more people/businesses ditch it and write it off as a failure).
Just an FYI, Cash still works everywhere.

 

[rp2011]

The echo-chamber is finally starting to piece it together correctly.

The iPhone 8 is slated for next year. As is customary for Apple after an S release. This year.

Again last year we were seeing actual production parts for the iPhone 7 by January. Cases by third parties by March.

So far this year, nothing.
It's April and nada.

And also remember, even with the design and parts basically unchanged from the 6. And in production by January, they were still supply restrained at launch. Especially with the 7 plus in Jet Black.

So how the supposed analysts were pushing this "supercycle" narrative without the use of basic common sense says a lot.
A LOT.

 

[Derekuda]

I don't get the apparent obsession with getting rid of a tiny amount of front bezel which is actually useful to hold the phone in a way that means you can see the whole display, and also means you can have a satisfying physical button. Especially before they've even removed the long-functionless chin from the iMac.

I feel exactly the same way about Samsung doing it with the S8. I actually preferred galaxy phones because of the physical home button.

 

[AlexH]

Remove one of the most useful and loved features of the iPhone on their anniversary model? Whew, that'd be a blow. I seriously doubt that's a real possibility. But reality is stranger than fiction, so who knows...

 

[mjschabow]

My Galaxy S8+ order is looking more and more attractive

 

[tkukoc]

Said it over and over last year, 7 Plus was my last Apple Phone for at least a year or two. They've lost focus on software and are hardware heavy causing mistakes left and right to occur. Holding off to see what Apple can do in a couple years rather than the yearly upgrade since there's no reason to upgrade that quickly anymore.

 

[fokmik]

Apple is already integrate touchid into macs now..and they consider to remove it from iphones? not a chance

 

[andy.ringwood]

I don't see why they just delay it and ensure Touch ID is under the screen. Seems a very stupid idea to get rid of it altogether.