I think we've all read this article where Ming-Chi Kuo mentioned that the 5.8" iPhone 8 will have similar dimensions as the 4.7" iPhone: https://www.macrumors.com/2017/02/15/2017-iphone-edge-to-edge-display-virtual-buttons/
So based on this I tried to see if this was actually possible and in theory, yes it could be. However, in reality I don't think it's realistic. Just look at the comparison below I've made:
All recent iPhones have an aspect ratio of 16:9 and all apps are programmed that way. I think the usable screen part will remain 16:9 and the rumoured gesture area will be 2:9, making the screen 18:9 (or 2:1 if you like) just like the LG G6 (and most probably Samsung Galaxy S8).
I feel that that 2:9 part will be always showing in all apps and the 16:9 part will show apps as they are right now so developers don't have to adopt another new aspect ratio. The home button is the most iconic thing that makes an iPhone an iPhone and the way iOS works, everything is centred around the home button. But I'll get back to that later.
When looking at an 5.8" 18:9 screen (the image on the left) you can immediately see it's the same size as the entire 4.7" iPhone. You can't just create a screen, there need to be bezels, so I've made the 5.8" mockup with minimal bezels.
However, realistically you would need room for a front facing camera and sensors. I know there is this Apple patent that depicts a camera and sensors behind the screen, but I don't think that tech is ready yet. The front facing cam is too important for people, so I don't see a degradation in quality happen. Also, if LG and Samsung (who specialise in making screens and even provide tech to Apple) can't make a completely bezel-less phone, we can't expect Apple to do that. So personally I think the iPhone will look like the one on the right.
The iPhone on the right is a little bit wider and significantly taller. So people who don't want anything bigger than the 4.7" iPhone are probably going to be disappointed. Size wise it's going to sit perfectly between the 4.7" and 5.5" iPhone.
I also wanted to point out the function area. I've made a design based on the following principles:
I know that the function area looks like a bad use of screen, but I think there might be some things next to the home button that show up dynamically (like hand off). And after reading this on the Verge: http://www.theverge.com/circuitbrea...android-buttons-gestures-moto-huawei-mwc-2017
I think the function area could work the same way:
So basically that function area could be used as a gesture area and in most cases your hands would be covering it up like the trackpad on your laptop. You will be focussing on the 16:9 usable screen part so you won't even notice the almost empty function area (but again, I think it might be dynamic and some icons could show up next to the home button).
But who knows what Apple has in store for use. Software wise we won't know until the final unveil as the hardware will leak but the software most probably won't. Hopefully we will get some insight with the possible announcement of that 10.5" bezel-less iPad.
So based on this I tried to see if this was actually possible and in theory, yes it could be. However, in reality I don't think it's realistic. Just look at the comparison below I've made:
All recent iPhones have an aspect ratio of 16:9 and all apps are programmed that way. I think the usable screen part will remain 16:9 and the rumoured gesture area will be 2:9, making the screen 18:9 (or 2:1 if you like) just like the LG G6 (and most probably Samsung Galaxy S8).
I feel that that 2:9 part will be always showing in all apps and the 16:9 part will show apps as they are right now so developers don't have to adopt another new aspect ratio. The home button is the most iconic thing that makes an iPhone an iPhone and the way iOS works, everything is centred around the home button. But I'll get back to that later.
When looking at an 5.8" 18:9 screen (the image on the left) you can immediately see it's the same size as the entire 4.7" iPhone. You can't just create a screen, there need to be bezels, so I've made the 5.8" mockup with minimal bezels.
However, realistically you would need room for a front facing camera and sensors. I know there is this Apple patent that depicts a camera and sensors behind the screen, but I don't think that tech is ready yet. The front facing cam is too important for people, so I don't see a degradation in quality happen. Also, if LG and Samsung (who specialise in making screens and even provide tech to Apple) can't make a completely bezel-less phone, we can't expect Apple to do that. So personally I think the iPhone will look like the one on the right.
The iPhone on the right is a little bit wider and significantly taller. So people who don't want anything bigger than the 4.7" iPhone are probably going to be disappointed. Size wise it's going to sit perfectly between the 4.7" and 5.5" iPhone.
I also wanted to point out the function area. I've made a design based on the following principles:
- There must be room for the camera and speaker on top
- The phone must be symmetrical (same size top and bottom bezel)
- Apps must be able to work in the same 16:9 aspect ratio of the iPhone 5/5S/6/6S/7
- The gesture area will be 2:9, making the entire screen 18:9 or 2:1
- The bezels can be reduced to a minimum
- The home button must function the same way as current iPhones
- The function area can be dynamic
- The function area will support gestures
I know that the function area looks like a bad use of screen, but I think there might be some things next to the home button that show up dynamically (like hand off). And after reading this on the Verge: http://www.theverge.com/circuitbrea...android-buttons-gestures-moto-huawei-mwc-2017
I think the function area could work the same way:
- If you want to go home, 3D Touch the virtual home button (this will prevent you from accidentally going home like with Android's soft keys). I've tried 3D Touch clicking an icon and then pressing the home button and repeating that process a couple of times and I think this could be a good replacement. However, you can't feel where the home button is, but that might change in the future. Maybe they'll even make a small indent in the glass of the touch screen where the software home button will be.
- Force clicking will open multitasking. This would just feel like on the MacBooks.
- Swiping left to right will go back in apps (or maybe navigate to the previous open app).
- Swiping right to left will go forward in apps (or maybe navigate to the next open app).
- Swiping down will open Notification Center (this will solve the issue with reaching the top of the phone).
- Swiping up will open Control Center.
So basically that function area could be used as a gesture area and in most cases your hands would be covering it up like the trackpad on your laptop. You will be focussing on the 16:9 usable screen part so you won't even notice the almost empty function area (but again, I think it might be dynamic and some icons could show up next to the home button).
But who knows what Apple has in store for use. Software wise we won't know until the final unveil as the hardware will leak but the software most probably won't. Hopefully we will get some insight with the possible announcement of that 10.5" bezel-less iPad.
