Apple could be planning to remove the famous home button on the iPhone 8, according to sources on the supply chain.
The rumour comes from sources speaking to Japanese website Macotakara about the upcoming iPad.
According to the site, the ‘informed’ supply chain source from Taiwan says Apple’s next tablet will have reduced bezels around the screen and – crucially – no physical home button.
Gadget sites are extrapolating from this that Apple could follow the same design principles with the iPhone 8 – which is believed to be appearing towards the end of 2017.
“It is widely expected that Apple will replace the physical Home button on the iPhone 8 with one embedded into the display,” wrote Apple site 9to5Mac.
Although the new iPad appears to be losing the bezels, it’s actually gaining some thickness to offset the design change. The new 9.7-inch iPad will be the same thickness of the current iPad Air while the larger 12.9-inch iPad will gain an additional 3mm.
It’s unclear yet whether or not the iPhone 8 will be heftier but it shouldn’t come as a surprise if this is the case.
Android phones like the Google Pixel already have soft-touch buttons built into the software, giving the phones a buttonless front. This enables smartphones to be manufactured more efficiently and can help with waterproofing.
What we’re not sure about is what will happen to the TouchID fingerprint scanner – it could be built into the display or fitted to a different part of the phone. Several Android handsets place the fingerprint scanner on the back of the handset.
Other rumours have suggested the new iPad will be put into production in December 2016, ready for a launch in the first half of 2017. The last time Apple unveiled a new iPad was back in March when it launched the 9.7-inch iPad Pro.
[Source:-MIRROR]
