The “iPhone 8” Touch ID sensor is once again said to be integrated into the new flagship device’s display. A new report from Friday says Apple has successfully found a solution to the issue of integrating the fingerprint sensor into the display of its upcoming new handset.
Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) said it spoke to sources from Apple supplier Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), who apparently confirmed Apple’s achievement during a technology convention held in Taipei on Thursday.
Among several design changes TSMC reportedly discussed at the TSMC 2017 NA Technology Symposium was the lack of a home button on the redesigned OLED iPhone, owing to Apple’s use of “an optical fingerprint sensor to enable authentication directly on the screen” in the absence of a physical Home button.
The sources also claim the new handset will include “invisible infrared image sensors to enhance the functionality of the high-pixel camera” and to enable augmented reality functions.
Recent reports had indicate Apple had been struggling to find a solution that efficiently integrated the Touch ID sensor directly into the OLED display expected to be used on the new flagship iPhone. The company was reportedly facing issues related to low-yield issues of the sensor.
Apple was said to be considering moving the sensor to the back side of the device, dropping the Touch ID sensor all together in favor of another biometric solution, or delaying production of the device.
The possibility of a rear-mounted Touch ID sensor was met with much wailing and gnashing of teeth among current iPhone users. The security of existing face and iris recognition is reportedly not where Apple would like it to be before relying on them as security measures.
Meanwhile, the Friday report also claims the screen ratio of the displays of the new iPhone will be adjusted to 18.5:9 instead of the previous 16:9.
