iPhone 8 Rumors: iPhone X, No Home Button, Improved 3D Touch

iPhone 8 No TouchID — An iPhone 7 is displayed in a store in London, Oct. 4, 2016 REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

As we get closer to the launch of Apple’s tenth anniversary edition of the iPhone, new rumors about the device keep on emerging.

Rumored features of the device till now include IP68 waterproof certification, a 10nm processor, dual-cameras, fast charging, curved displays and more. But that may not be all there is to iPhone 8, it seems.

The name of the next generation iPhone is a mystery in itself. The upcoming device is currently being referred to with a slew of names including iPhone 8, iPhone 7s and the iPhone Pro. The newest moniker added to this list is iPhone X.

Why iPhone X?

Apple has had a tradition of denoting its iPhones numerically and therefore, such a change in naming would be an indication of a bigger change in the device itself. One such change is expected to be the absence of a home button on the upcoming iPhone.

AppleInsider reported last week, citing information from Apple’s supply chain, a “feature-rich” 5.8-inch iPhone X. According to the report, the upcoming device could feature a curved OLED with a slim bottom bezel, similar to the one rumored for the Samsung Galaxy S8. Both the displays would be supplied by Apple’s rival Samsung. The display is expected to be more pressure sensitive than the one on iPhone 7, which will lead to improved 3D Touch on the device.

But, if Apple does go in for such a display, it would leave no room for the home button, which has been a part of the phone's form factor since the first generation iPhone. Apple might even have to give up its TouchID fingerprint sensor — which has been, until now, embedded inside the home button — in favor of a display-embedded fingerprint sensor. Indications are rife that Apple might even get rid of the TouchID itself in favor of a facial recognition system which would enhance the device’s security.

If Apple does indeed go for an iPhone X with an OLED display, it would provide with a better screen ratio and an improved viewing experience than existing LCD displays on its devices.