Apple iPhone 8 May Get A Virtual Home Button, WWDC Screenshots Hint

At its annual World Wide Developers Conference, Apple revealed a slew of hardware and software. The company might have inadvertently revealed some of the features of its upcoming device, iPhone 8.

According to some of the screenshots shown during a presentation, introducing an improved version of Apple’s voice assistant, Siri, the iPhone 8 might have a virtual home button. This might be the strongest indication yet that Apple is finally ditching the home button and the large space it takes up on the front of the handset could actually be taken over by the display, providing users with more surface area.

Read: Apple Might Launch iPhone 8 or 7S or Both: Expected Features, Possibilities For Next Device

The virtual home button shown by the screenshots and pointed out by Phone Arena Monday, encapsulates a Siri waveform inside a circular form. According to the report, it is actually the same size as the physical home button present on the iPhone 7.

So how could it work? If these indications are pointing in the right direction, Apple might have unofficially confirmed two iPhone 8 features — the device might have an edge-to-edge display and a display-embedded home button. The virtual home button showed in the screenshots would take feedback from a pressure-sensitive button located under the display. Since the button showcases the Siri waveform, it might also be voice-sensitive, and the circle with the waveform could pop up every time a user summons Siri.

In the iPhone 7 setup, the device used to take feedback from the physical home button, which would be reflected on the display with a mic icon.

Unlike the Samsung Galaxy S8, the Apple iPhone 8 isn’t expected to provide users with a totally button-less experience. Rather the company is expected to retain its home button, at least in part, which has been there on its phones since the first iPhone.

The official screenshots belie some images that emerged Monday showing a fingerprint sensor at the back of the device, which would go against Apple’s design philosophy until now — the company has kept the back smooth and clean with just a protruded rear cam, an Apple icon in the middle and the essential signage at the bottom.

Read: iPhone 8 Release Date Rumors: Sketchy Photos Of Touch ID On Back Of Device Leak

Apart from the virtual home button, the iPhone 8 is expected to make increased use of Apple’s pressure sensitive 3D Touch technology. According to some rumours, the device might have pressure sensitive power, screen lock and volume buttons instead of the physical ones on the iPhone 7. It is also expected to have a dual-camera setup akin to iPhone 7 Plus, but the two cameras are expected to be set vertically instead of horizontally, with an LED flash in the middle. Ṭhe device is also expected to have a 3D-imaging capable front camera

Chances are that iPhone 8 might be slightly bigger than iPhone 7 — it could have a 5.5-inch display.