According to a research note from Cowen and Company analyst Timothy Arcuri obtained by MacRumors, integrating Touch ID underneath the display of the iPhone 8 is causing Apple to delay mass-production of the handset, with the company setting themselves the deadline of May to finalise the design of the Touch ID system which could potentially, yet unlikely, be removed all together from the flagship 5.8-inch device in favour of facial/iris recognition.
Cowen claims that from his own “field work” within the supply chain Apple is exploring potential back-up options for the iPhone 8 if integrating Touch ID under the display becomes to times straining for the design team. Apple is said to be considering removing Touch ID all together in favour of facial/iris recognition however this is unlikely as it’s not secure enough, risky, and would potentially create issues with Apple Pay.
The report suggests that Apple could put the Touch ID sensor on the back of the iPhone but in a different place than on the Samsung Galaxy S8 which Arcuri says would not be a user-friendly option, or finally; he suggests Apple could delay production of the 5.8-inch iPhone until Touch ID is integrated correctly and halt mass production until a later day but still announce the device in early September alongside updated 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models.
Apple’s upcoming iPhone 8 is building itself up to be one of the most anticipated iPhone releases of all time. The device is said to feature a glass body and edge-to-edge OLED display that includes an integrated Touch ID fingerprint sensor and front-facing camera. While the iPhone 8 will be the star of Apple’s 2017 iPhone line-up, the company is also said to be planning an iPhone 7s update which will upgrade the current flagship iPhone handsets Apple offer.