Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is expected to release, or at least unveil, the most-anticipated iPhone, dubbed the iPhone 8, at the September event.
The iPhone 8 is rumored to feature a 5.8-inch edge-to-edge display, wireless charging, and no Home button, among other cool features.
Apple needs a hit phone to remain the top player in the premium smartphone market, where the tech giant faces stiff competition from Samsung Galaxy, Huawei, and Google Pixel. The next update of the Google Pixel is also due his year. At the same time, rumors indicate that Microsoft is preparing a smartphone under its Surface brand to challenge the iPhone in the business and premium market of the smartphones.
Here are three latest news that Apple’s fans and investors should not miss.
No Touch ID in the iPhone 8
The iPhone 8 won’t feature Touch ID fingerprint authentication, suggests a report from Bloomberg via 9to5Mac. Instead, Apple is testing using 3D facial detection to replace Touch ID, according to the report.
“Apple is testing an improved security system that allows users to log in, authenticate payments, and launch secure apps by scanning their face, according to people familiar with the product. This is powered by a new 3-D sensor, added the people, who asked not to be identified discussing technology that’s still in development. The company is also testing eye scanning to augment the system, one of the people said.”
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is the famous Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) analyst on the earth, also claimed that Apple will replace Touch ID functionality in the iPhone 8 with new face detection features.
Glass Body and Wireless Charging
The iPhone 8 is rumored to get glass body with metal frames to facilitate WPC-standard wireless charging functionality.
WPC refers to the Wireless Power Consortium, which supports the Qi wireless charging functionality.
Kuo believes that wireless charging will be enabled through an optional accessory in the iPhone 8. He added that that accessory will be purchased alongside the new iPhones.
According to rumors, the iPhone 8 will come with inductive charging rather than a true wireless charging feature.
OLED Screen: Apple Investing in Billion Dollars in LG Display
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is reportedly in talks with LG Display to purchase OLED panels for the iPhones. The tech giant will invest $1.75-2.62 billion into LG Display’s OLED manufacturing plant, according to a report from Mac Rumors.
“Samsung Display is the only display maker that meets Apple’s strict quality criteria for now,” said an industry source on condition of anonymity. “LG Display is said to be meeting about 70 percent level of the requirements, while Chinese display makers are still struggling to catch up with that of LG.”
According to the rumors mill, the iPhone 8 will feature an OLED screen, while the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus will use standard LCD panels.
