The internet might have just gotten its first real look at the iPhone 8, in the form of “leaked” component photos that offer hints at the possible new design of the highly anticipated device.
Pictures that allegedly show the iPhone 8’s front and rear glass panels got posted online today by a person who claims the parts come from a source in China. While we can’t verify the authenticity of the images, they look legit — and they line up with rumors regarding big changes coming to the iPhone 8.
Take a closer look at the iPhone 8 front and rear panels:
Photo: Kamikasky/Reddit
The iPhone 8 is rumored to feature an all-glass design in the front and back in order to support wireless charging. Along with the supposed iPhone 8 parts, the leaker on Reddit also posted pictures of rear shells for the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus. Those models, which reportedly will bring only small changes to the current iPhone 7 lineup, are expected to debut alongside the more radically redesigned iPhone 8.
iPhone 8 design changes
Previous rumors suggested Apple might be forced to move Touch ID to the back of the iPhone 8 due to manufacturing problems related to embedding the sensor in the smartphone’s display (although a supposed case leak seemed to quash that idea).
If the newly leaked parts are genuine, it appears Apple solved the embedded Touch ID problem. There’s no cutout in the back for the Touch ID fingerprint sensor that’s currently housed in the iPhone’s physical Home button.
To keep the iPhone 8’s speaker, FaceTime camera and microphone at the top of the device, it looks like Apple will hide them with a small black bar up top while the rest of the front is pure display. Other iPhone 8 design changes could include the dual-lens camera switching to a vertical array to offer better AR and VR features.
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
3 responses to “‘Leaked’ iPhone 8 parts reveal big design changes”
Based on the renders and demos of iOS 11 running with the new design, the screen spaces to the left and right of the speaker/sensors will only serve to show carrier signal strength, battery life, etc. Although it isn’t visually appealing as a stand alone part, it should be all but unnoticeable when assembled and serve to really maximize the screen space. Looking forward to seeing how an embedded digital Touch ID/Face Scanner solution works in a buttonless homescreen.