Rumors Persist About Apple Placing Touch ID on Back of iPhone 8

[oldmacs]

Worst idea ever. Well actually not really,but this is absolutely form over function. Touch ID is one of the best apple features ever. I'd hate to loose its versatility. Couldn't they literally build the screen around it?
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All these posters moaning about touch ID on the back. Here's the reality of the situation, if Apple can't get it to work 100% of the time under the glass front it will go on the back. Working 80% of the time is not good enough for Apple as it gives a bad user experience. This is the dilemma Apple is in now. Good user experience with minor inconveniences (dock, have to pick it up etc) but it always works or the more visually pleasing option that may or may not work every time touch ID is used. I know what I'd prefer.

Or keep it on the front instead of prioritising form over function and ruining one of the best iPhone features ever.

And also, not working 100 percent of the time has never stopped them before !

 

[Chicane-UK]

If Apple are unable to implement the Touch ID under the screen then why not place it on the side next to or on the power button? Like Sony. Simples!

Was just sitting here thinking exactly the same thing as I hold my iPhone 7. Feels like it is thick enough for a reasonable sized touch sensor on the side of the body.

 

[kyykesko]

I've had to use part-time a few Android ones with a fingerprint reader on the back. It's probably one of the worst design choices I've ever seen. It doesn't work with any case, it can't be used with the phone on a car mount, you can't just leave the phone on the desk at work and use it without picking it up.

What is the point of having full front screen anyway? The current system works. Of course, it'd work even better if they went back to actual button like in 6/6+ instead of that gimmicky fake button they have now. Then again, if they really are hell-bent on making it even worse, why not put it on the back? The only option more ridiculous than that would be to put it on an adapter you'd have to buy separately. Sadly I don't think even that is beyond them at this point.

 

[ValO]

Perhaps it will be something like this.

All will be called iphone 8:
Regular model:
Glass backs, alu frame, slightly reduced bezels (and chin/foreheads) 4.7 inch lcd at 1920x1080, 5.5 inch lcd at 2208x1242.
Updated back camera, socs. Touchid still on the front, wireless charging.

Iphone 8 (anniversery) edition:
Same as the regular iphone 8, but fullfront /" bezelles" 5.8 oled, touchid in screen, 28...x1242 res, updated dual front cams with ar possibilities and updated back camera(dual OIS), stainless steel sides, sapphire back, etc.

 

[Kabeyun]

I'm fine with them putting Touch ID on the back as long as they also put the screen on the back.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

No idea what to think. Seems like awhile ago some iPhone 6 were having touchid problems and Apple had a temporary solution to it. If I remember correctly that solution was touchid embedded in the screen. It had a message use this until you get service or something like that.

I haven't seen anybody else mention that but it seems to imply Apple is at least part of the way to perfecting TI under the screen?

 

[JamesDo]

This years iPhone is the best iPhone since iPhone, but Touch ID is around back so next year we can upgrade people to a phone with Touch ID on the front.

Is it just me or do small bezels look equally as awful as "big" bezels? Top and bottom bezels look stupid with no side bezels as well. I would like to see small bezels all the way around the screen(or completely bezeless), I think it would look much more uniform.

It looks like a dated Galaxy S8, although that doesn't come as a surprise since every iPhone after the iPhone 5/5s looks terrible. I switched from the iPhone 7 to S8 and it's one of the best decisions I ever made (smartphone wise).

 

[Rob_2811]

Some real drama queens on here, it will be fine if they place it in the kind of location it was on the Pixel. They will all buy it aswell!

I've said it before people are expecting this to be something absolutely revolutionary, I'm expecting something very similar to the Samsung S8.
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No idea what to think. Seems like awhile ago some iPhone 6 were having touchid problems and Apple had a temporary solution to it. If I remember correctly that solution was touchid embedded in the screen. It had a message use this until you get service or something like that.

I haven't seen anybody else mention that but it seems to imply Apple is at least part of the way to perfecting TI under the screen?

Are you sure you dont mean "assistive touch" which puts a floating software home button on screen?

 

[NewBench]

Just wait to see Jonny Ive explain this in his launch video come September. "We've moved TouchID from the front....to the back. It's engineering at it's most intuitive and elegant form".

Seriously though, I'd rather they delayed "iPhone 8" until next year to get this right and have the TouchID on the front through the glass.

 

[StevieD100]

It will be on the back and you'll like it.
Then the 2018 iPhone will have it on front and you'll like that as well.

no I Won't like it and as such, I won't buy it (if the sensor is on the back)
Sorry, that's how I use the phone in real life. A sensor on the back is out of the question.
If Apple put it there, and sorry, 'No Sale'.

 

[ValO]

What is this? Saw it when i googled iphone 8(pictures last 24 hours).
Is this a render or a real leak?
I don' t read viernamese/korean very well.

 

[Rob_2811]

People whinging about something not happening and calling it a 'design choice' when there is no evidence anywhere that this is even possible.

If they keep it on the front there is every chance that they will have to keep the huge bezel to accommodate it.

 

[jdawgnoonan]

I have two phones, an iPhone 7 Plus and a Nexus 6P. I prefer most things about the iPhone (battery life and iOS in general being the biggest things I prefer), but I prefer the rear placement of the fingerprint reader on the Nexus compared to the front placement on the iPhone. I feel that a well designed on-screen home button coupled with a finger print reader on the back of the phone would be a fine upgrade compared with the current form factor. Is it is good as the TouchID in the screen? Obviously not. But it is better than the current situation where the screen to bezel ratio makes the phones much larger than they need to be.

 

[Exile714]

Are a lot of people new to the rumor world? Because these pessimistic rumors contradicting other rumors happen ALL. THE. TIME.

Seriously, every year KGI comes out and says "uh oh, shortages!" And some random investment company says "supply chain claims X feature will be held back."

For instance, last year there was a rumor that the dual camera would be available on only the "premium" iPhone 7+, with a "regular" iPhone 7+ having just one. Does anyone remember that? Every year the same stuff happens, people freak out, others defend it, and more often than not the rumors are wrong.

So just chill out. September is still 4 months away.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

Some real drama queens on here, it will be fine if they place it in the kind of location it was on the Pixel. They will all buy it aswell!

I've said it before people are expecting this to be something absolutely revolutionary, I'm expecting something very similar to the Samsung S8.
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Are you sure you dont mean "assistive touch" which puts a floating software home button on screen?

That might have been what it was. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[6foot5foot]

All these posters moaning about touch ID on the back. Here's the reality of the situation, if Apple can't get it to work 100% of the time under the glass front it will go on the back. Working 80% of the time is not good enough for Apple as it gives a bad user experience. This is the dilemma Apple is in now. Good user experience with minor inconveniences (dock, have to pick it up etc) but it always works or the more visually pleasing option that may or may not work every time touch ID is used. I know what I'd prefer.

Or how about this - they'll just leave it right where it is, where it's been for the whole decade, working absolutely perfectly. Why do you assume they'd follow the logic(?) of "Ah, right, okay so we can't get it to work under the display substrate, so we'll shove it around the back like on that Google Pixel"?

Makes more sense that they'd just leave it unchanged, not make such a drastic change of location, merely as a stop-gap design compromise... not very Apple at ALL. What are they gonna do when they DO get it working under the display - shove it back round the front again?


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Just wait to see Jonny Ive explain this in his launch video come September. "We've moved TouchID from the front....to the back. It's engineering at it's most intuitive and elegant form".

Seriously though, I'd rather they delayed "iPhone 8" until next year to get this right and have the TouchID on the front through the glass.

Your logic assumes Apple are as idiotic as the people who start these ridiculous rumours. They aint gonna compromise like that, they're not stupid.

 

[geniusj]

Hopefully that doesn't happen. I like having my fingerprint sensor where I can see it and not spend 10 seconds trying to find it with my finger every time I want to unlock the device.

There seems to be a lot of fear about this, but if anyone has used a Pixel or one of the other Android phones with a sensible rear sensor placement (meaning not the S8), it has its own benefits. Yes, unlocking on a table is a pain, but unlocking when taking the phone out of your pocket is so simple that it's usually unlocked by the time it reaches your face and all while holding the phone in a pretty natural/secure fashion. You definitely wouldn't have any trouble finding the sensor. Having it as part of the screen would be the coolest for sure, but if they're still unable to do that, I think ditching the large bezels is more important for them to be able to compete.

 

[smacrumon]

Putting Touch ID onto the back of iPhone would single-handedly kill any goodwill customers have with Apple. It's the worst, least thought out idea, a multi billion research and development company could present. Carry over a protruding camera and antenna lines, well then you have the most rubbish device on the market, something not worthy of the Apple branding.

Thank Steve Jobs' input on iPhone 5, five yeas on, now called iPhone SE, it's the only phone model left from Apple that has any resemblance of well executed design.

RIP good design values at Apple.

 

[Kabeyun]

It looks like a dated Galaxy S8, although that doesn't come as a surprise since every iPhone after the iPhone 5/5s looks terrible. I switched from the iPhone 7 to S8 and it's one of the best decisions I ever made (smartphone wise).

Because you didn't care for the way it looked? Curious.

 

[6foot5foot]

Putting Touch ID onto the back of iPhone would single-handedly kill any goodwill customers have with Apple. It's the worst, least thought out idea, a multi billion research and development company could present. Carry over a protruding camera and antenna lines, well then you have the most rubbish device on the market, something not worthy of the Apple branding.

Thank Steve Jobs' input on iPhone 5, five yeas on, now called iPhone SE, it's the only phone model left from Apple that has any resemblance of well executed design.

RIP good design values at Apple.

Whoah, slow down there, you're making judgments of a very, very sensible and smart, industry leading design company, based on brainless "rumours" from speculators with zero design background or intuition.

Don't write em off just yet.

 

[Kabeyun]

Putting Touch ID onto the back of iPhone would single-handedly kill any goodwill customers have with Apple. It's the worst, least thought out idea, a multi billion research and development company could present. Carry over a protruding camera and antenna lines, well then you have the most rubbish device on the market, something not worthy of the Apple branding.

Thank Steve Jobs' input on iPhone 5, five yeas on, now called iPhone SE, it's the only phone model left from Apple that has any resemblance of well executed design.

RIP good design values at Apple.

Agree, but this is MacRumors.com. It's not "RIP" just yet. And please stop shouting.

 

[I7guy]

Agree, but this is MacRumors.com. It's not "RIP" just yet. And please stop shouting.

One person thinking RIP to good design values is different than RIP to Apple. However "good design" is subjective.

 

[1bcoolrob]

The fingerprint sensor It's not going to be on the front nor the back it's going to be on the side of the phone where the volume switch is

 

[Urban Joe]

What difference does the hardware make when we're using an OS UI that has basically never changed? iOS has become boring.

 

[Costino1]

The sensor is too high up on the rear of the phone for it to be practical and ergonomically to use 100s of times a day. Pick up your iPhone right now. Place your index finger directly under the Apple logo where the new sensor is supposedly going to be. Difficult to do isn't it and not comfortable? In the current position on the home screen, your thumb naturally goes to that position. It feels foreign to move my index finger to that position on the rear of the phone when I simply lift my phone. I don't see this happening design wise.