Ditching Touch ID in 'iPhone 8' wasn't Apple's first choice, was forced by technical restraints - report

A new report claims that Apple clung on to hope that it could retain Touch ID in the "iPhone 8," and any delays in shipping the new unit are apparently related to last-minute changes waiting on a breakthrough in the sensor being embedded in the screen.

According to a summary of the OLED "iPhone 8" production by the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, Apple only gave up on the Touch ID technology in the new device as deadlines for a fall release approached. Compounding the problem, differences in production between OLED screens destined for Samsung's phones and the iPhone caused additional issues.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the iPhone screen's assembly process requires "more steps and more layers of adhesive" than other phones, leading to more assembly error. While the report claims that a discrete touch layer in the OLED screen is the issue, a more likely candidate is the new 3D Touch layer that Samsung does not have.

The Wall Street Journal expects the new high-end OLED phone to ship alongside the conventional LED models on September 22, and not in October, as a report earlier on Thursday suggested. This most recent report echoes one from Wednesday regarding OLED flagship availability.

Apple is expected to announce the three new iPhones with the high-end OLED model, and two other LED-based devices at the company's Sept. 12 press event. A refresh of the Apple TV adding 4K video as a playback option, and an LTE-equipped Apple Watch are also expected.

45 Comments

markiezyy 8 Years · 16 comments

About 7 years ago

"users will unlock the phone using either an old-fashioned password or what is expected to be a new facial-recognition feature" Wow this is so pathetic. I wasn't a fan of the touch ID on the back but i'd prefer that over not having it at all.

RacerhomieX 7 Years · 95 comments

I believe it Was ALWAYS Apple's plan to create unique,seamless & Walled experiences.While TouchID is great, the Android competitors ,even though not offering the same level of security, had copied it. This 3D Sensing tech, is Apple's Trump Card. No one can even clone it for a Year or Two.I believe ,even more. The same was done with the Touch Bar on the Mac. No one can clone it, and now it delivers a Custom experience.This is just the beginning folks ,you just wait & see.

StrangeDays 8 Years · 12986 comments

markiezyy said:

"users will unlock the phone using either an old-fashioned password or what is expected to be a new facial-recognition feature" Wow this is so pathetic. I wasn't a fan of the touch ID on the back but i'd prefer that over not having it at all.

How long have you been using your secret prototype? Oh, you haven’t got a secret prototype? Then how on earth do you feel qualified to judge how well it works, seeing as you’ve never, you know, used it?

robjn 8 Years · 283 comments

This appears to be based on 'Foxconn' screenshots published on Twitter by Geskin that appeared to refer to features by code names . Toughton-Smith immediately dismissed them, Geskin seemed unsure of the authenticity of the images he posted.

I can't believe Apple changed their mind about TouchID on the back - if the screenshots are genuine and the code name really does refer to TouchID. More likely they are fake!

igorsky 9 Years · 775 comments

markiezyy said:

"users will unlock the phone using either an old-fashioned password or what is expected to be a new facial-recognition feature" Wow this is so pathetic. I wasn't a fan of the touch ID on the back but i'd prefer that over not having it at all.

Yes! Let's a believe a "report" from "sources familiar with the matter" over Apple's history of setting mobile security standards. That's what you're suggesting, right?