Newest iPhone 8 leaks reveal three new features coming at launch in September. According to a HomePod firmware, Apple's next flagship smartphone will be pulling in a split status bar and a tap-to-wake method. But the much-anticipated onscreen Touch ID seems to have left off the stage this time.
Apple's soon-to-be-released smart home speaker HomePod has been the instrument of some iPhone 8 leaks unveiled Tuesday. According to a HomePod firmware decoded by iOS developer Steven Troughton-Smith, the iPhone 8 does not come forth with a Touch ID embedded right through the device's display.
Many Apple fans have believed that an onscreen Touch ID is coming this year, but tipsters revealed that Apple was having difficulties bringing the feature into life. A month ago, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo noted already that no onscreen Touch ID is happening this year.
For what it's worth... I've seen nothing to suggest an ultrasound under-the-display Touch ID here. Looks like not this year. Quash that one
— Steve T-S (@stroughtonsmith) August 1, 2017
Instead of the Touch ID, facial recognition has been tipped as the closest alternative. Responding to Smith's series of tweets is another iOS developer, Guilherme Rambo, who tweeted a screengrab of an ARKit and Photos firmware suggesting "a lot of references to facial expression detection".
There's also a lot of new references to facial expression detection pic.twitter.com/8PsPVj1QqU
— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) August 1, 2017
Smith also speculated that the home button will no longer be called as such but Home Indicator. Previous leaks already pointed that the iPhone 8 will not be having a physical home button, thus Home Indicator sits well as it will now be placed virtually on the screen.
On Monday, IBTimes SG reported that the iPhone 8 might arrive in three colour variants only: Black, Jet Black, and White/Silver.
