We’ve been hearing several rumors about the iPhone 8 screen consistently, and now we have another to add to the pile. Generally, the rumor mill has indicated that the iPhone 8 will have a much bigger screen to body ratio than previous models and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor embedded in the display. However, one well-connected analyst suggests that one of those two rumors is false.
Three iPhones still expected this year
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo offered 10 predictions for the iPhone 8 in a new report. The first prediction is something we’ve been hearing for quite some time, which is that Apple is preparing to launch three new models this year. Two will be standard updates to last year’s handsets, presumably the iPhone 7s and 7s Plus.
They will reportedly have 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch LCD screens, respectively, in a “front form factor” design, according to Kuo. The third is expected to have a 5.2-inch or 5.8-inch OLED screen with an “all-new design.”
iPhone 8 screen to body ratio to be massive
He said the measurement of the display depends on the definition of the screen size in use, adding that the OLED model will have a “full-screen design” and “the highest screen to body ratio of any smartphone currently available worldwide.” He also said that a “notch display design” will enable Apple to make the iPhone 8 screen-to-body ratio huge.
The analyst predicts that the iPhone 8 will also feature a virtual Home button, but not a fingerprint scanner. That flies in the face of what the rumor mill has been maintaining, which is that the fingerprint scanner will be embedded in the display. Kuo offered a few reasons he doesn’t expect any fingerprint sensor on the iPhone 8.
For example, he doesn’t believe the full-screen display will work with current capacitive fingerprint sensors. He also noted some technical problems with embedded fingerprint sensors, like their need for “a more complex panel pixel design.” Additionally, he feels that the scan-through capabilities of an OLED panel are just disappointing even though it is thinner than an LCD panel. Because he no longer expects a fingerprint sensor on the iPhone 8, he no longer believes the ramp in production will be delayed. Previously, he had suggested a delay until at least late October.
iPhone 8 to feature 3D sensing capabilities
Kuo also expects the iPhone 8 to offer facial recognition through 3D sensing, which he said should also improve the quality of selfies taken with it.
He also predicts that all three iPhone models will have a Lightning port and also an embedded USB-C power delivery IC to improve charging efficiency. You may recall that some time ago, we heard conflicting rumors about whether the iPhone 8 will continue to use Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector or whether it would have a USB-C port, or whether both would be supported.
Even though he now says he doesn’t expect production on the iPhone 8 will be delayed, the KGI analyst still predicts that production on the iPhone 8 will ramp between October and November. We heard from another source this week that Samsung may be having yield problems with the OLED panels for the iPhone 8. However, it’s unclear whether Kuo is also hearing about these problems and whether they may be to blame for the delay he is still predicting.
He also predicts that production on the two LCD-equipped models will ramp between August and September and believes Apple may unveil all three models at one event in September. He also warned that supply of the iPhone 8 could remain tight through the first half of 2018.
