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iPhone 5S to Include Sapphire-Covered Convex Home Button with Fingerprint Sensor?
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has on a number of occasions offered accurate information on Apple's product plans, has issued a new research note indicating that the iPhone 5S may include a sapphire-covered convex home button housing a fingerprint sensor.
The iPhone's home button has had a concave shape since its introduction in 2007, but Kuo believes that moving to a convex shape would give Apple more space in which to fit the fingerprint sensor expected to be a differentiating feature for the iPhone 5S.
Rumors of a sapphire-covered capacitive home button with fingerprint sensor surfaced in May, but the source for that report had essentially no track record upon which to gauge reliability.
Apple will reportedly unveil the iPhone 5S at a media event on September 10. Based on previous iPhone introductions, the iPhone 5S may launch within just a few weeks after that announcement. Apple is also rumored to be working on a lower-cost iPhone with a plastic shell, with that device perhaps also making an appearance at the September 10 event.
The iPhone's home button has had a concave shape since its introduction in 2007, but Kuo believes that moving to a convex shape would give Apple more space in which to fit the fingerprint sensor expected to be a differentiating feature for the iPhone 5S.
Convex home button creates space for fingerprint sensor; yield to improve. We think that a fingerprint sensor will be placed under the home button of iPhone 5S. However, assembling it could be difficult as the space under home button is limited as it already has to accommodate the Lightning connector, speaker and microphone. Thus, we think the shape of the home button could be changed from concave to convex to create more space for a fingerprint sensor.Kuo goes on to note that Apple may have some advantages over its competitors as fingerprint sensors make their way into mobile devices, as Apple will utilize RF and capacitive technology from AuthenTec rather than the common optical recognition used in many other sensors, making for a more robust system unaffected by dust and other contaminants. The iPhone's iconic single home button also provides a natural location for a fingerprint sensor.
Sapphire prevents home button from being scratched. A convex home button could be more easily scratched, so a harder material is required. We believe Apple will switch from plastic to sapphire, whose hardness is second only to diamond. Sapphire would protect the home button from being scratched and the fingerprint sensor from being damaged.
Rumors of a sapphire-covered capacitive home button with fingerprint sensor surfaced in May, but the source for that report had essentially no track record upon which to gauge reliability.
Apple will reportedly unveil the iPhone 5S at a media event on September 10. Based on previous iPhone introductions, the iPhone 5S may launch within just a few weeks after that announcement. Apple is also rumored to be working on a lower-cost iPhone with a plastic shell, with that device perhaps also making an appearance at the September 10 event.
Tags: KGI Securities, Ming-Chi Kuo
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68 months ago
So with a convex home button, wouldn't that mean that when laid face-down, the iPhone would wobble from the extruding home button? I don't see that happening. Apple likes their devices to be flush and fluid as possible. The only main exception to this is the new iPod touch, but the iPhone is Apple's main flagship product now.
Edit: Apparently I need to justify myself because Steve Jobs has spiritually told multiple people that I am putting my phone down wrong. I only have a screen protector and no case on my iPhone 5, so when I place it face-down, it makes it easier for me to pick up.
Edit: Apparently I need to justify myself because Steve Jobs has spiritually told multiple people that I am putting my phone down wrong. I only have a screen protector and no case on my iPhone 5, so when I place it face-down, it makes it easier for me to pick up.
68 months ago
No one cares about a 4.7 inch screen other then Andre the Giant.
People look stupid holding a 4.7 inch phone to their ear/head.
People look stupid holding a 4.7 inch phone to their ear/head.
68 months ago
Wouldn't placing the scanner on the home button lead to a bunch of accidental button pushes. Seem like that would be annoying.
68 months ago
The only reason large screens should exist is to give the phone more room for better batteries and other hardware for specs, and the iPhone isn't really lacking in those categories.
68 months ago
iPhone 5S
Fingerprint scanner? I don't want to pay for this.
12Mp camera? Not falling for that either.
Gimme LTE-A, 802.11ac, A7, better battery life, ...
Fingerprint scanner? I don't want to pay for this.
12Mp camera? Not falling for that either.
Gimme LTE-A, 802.11ac, A7, better battery life, ...
68 months ago
Who cares about a 4.7 inch screen? The only reason large screens should exist is to give the phone more room for better batteries and other hardware for specs, and the iPhone isn't really lacking in those categories.
Or maybe because larger screen = larger screen.
It's better for reading websites/emails, gaming, watching movies, etc.
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