iPhone 8 to Replace Fingerprint Scanner With Face Scanner?

Apple may be planning to replace the fingerprint scanner with a face scanner on the iPhone 8, according to JPMorgan analyst Rod Hall via CNET.

A front-facing 3-D scanner could replace the home button, which could be phased out if Apple goes with a full-glass front this year, Hall wrote in a research note this week. Biometric facial scanning would be more secure for Apple Pay and could work better in "wet conditions" if the iPhones are more water resistant, JPMorgan wrote.

Notably, this coincides with another report from the reliable Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities. Kuo also predicted that Apple would replace the Touch ID fingerprint scanner with new biometric technologies that offer similar functionality.


Additionally, Kuo says the iPhone 8 will feature a 5.8-inch OLED with a main display area of 5.15-inches and another smaller area below that will service as a virtual function button region.

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It's widely expected that the 10th anniversary iPhone will be a major update. It will purportedly have a chassis made of reinforced glass with a stainless steel metal frame and an edge-to-edge display that has no bezels on the top and bottom. Additionally, the front camera, Touch ID, speaker, and other sensors will apparently be embedded into the display. Another report claims that the device would be a clear piece of glass with a next-generation OLED screen. The 5.8-inch screen is said to feature a main 5.15-inch display area with a reserved 'function area' below for virtual buttons. The device may use a stacked logic board design freeing up space for a larger battery pack. More recently, Apple is said to be equipping the phone with wireless charging, an iris scanner or face scanner, and a 3D camera.

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