Apple's Beats brand in April unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, a redesigned wire-free version of its popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds.
Apple is Struggling to Integrate Touch ID Under the iPhone 8's Display
Apple's supposed "biggest bottleneck" in preparing to mass produce the rumored 5.8-inch iPhone with an edge-to-edge OLED display remains integrating Touch ID underneath the display, according to a research note from Cowen and Company analyst Timothy Arcuri obtained by MacRumors.
Arcuri, citing his own "field work" within the supply chain, said the current yield of Apple's in-house AuthenTec-based fingerprint sensor solution is low, while noting that Apple seems unwilling to use an outside solution at this time. If Apple cannot resolve these yield issues, he sees three different scenarios:
Arcuri still expects Apple to announce the 5.8-inch iPhone alongside updated 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models in September, but supplies may be extremely limited or unavailable whatsoever until later in the year. That timeline echoes recent predictions from Apple analyst Brian White and investment bank Barclays.
It's also a scenario that has occurred with nearly every previous iPhone launch. Last year, the iPhone 7 Plus in Jet Black was a highly popular model among customers, and shipping estimates for online orders quickly slipped to several weeks out. It wasn't until around November that it became more widely available.
The device, which has also been called the iPhone X, iPhone Pro, or iPhone Edition, is expected to feature a new glass and stainless steel design, wireless charging, longer battery life, a new front-facing camera with 3D sensing capabilities, and improved water resistance. It also won't have a physical Home button.
Touch ID-related yield issues may be the reason why 5.8-inch iPhone components and schematics have yet to leak from the supply chain. iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus parts began to leak around March last year.
Cowen and Company maintains an "outperform" rating for AAPL with a $155 price target.
Arcuri, citing his own "field work" within the supply chain, said the current yield of Apple's in-house AuthenTec-based fingerprint sensor solution is low, while noting that Apple seems unwilling to use an outside solution at this time. If Apple cannot resolve these yield issues, he sees three different scenarios:
• Apple removes Touch ID from the 5.8-inch iPhone entirely and relies solely on facial/iris recognition. Arcuri said this is unlikely, as it's not secure enough, risky, and would potentially create issues with Apple Pay.
• Apple puts Touch ID on the back of the 5.8-inch iPhone, but in a different place than the one on the Galaxy S8, which can be hard to reach. Arcuri said this would not be a user-friendly or optimal solution to say the least.
• Apple delays production of the 5.8-inch iPhone, but still announces the device in early September alongside updated 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models.
Arcuri still expects Apple to announce the 5.8-inch iPhone alongside updated 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models in September, but supplies may be extremely limited or unavailable whatsoever until later in the year. That timeline echoes recent predictions from Apple analyst Brian White and investment bank Barclays.
It's also a scenario that has occurred with nearly every previous iPhone launch. Last year, the iPhone 7 Plus in Jet Black was a highly popular model among customers, and shipping estimates for online orders quickly slipped to several weeks out. It wasn't until around November that it became more widely available.
The device, which has also been called the iPhone X, iPhone Pro, or iPhone Edition, is expected to feature a new glass and stainless steel design, wireless charging, longer battery life, a new front-facing camera with 3D sensing capabilities, and improved water resistance. It also won't have a physical Home button.
Touch ID-related yield issues may be the reason why 5.8-inch iPhone components and schematics have yet to leak from the supply chain. iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus parts began to leak around March last year.
Cowen and Company maintains an "outperform" rating for AAPL with a $155 price target.
Related Roundup: iPhone X
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31 months ago
Take your time Apple and get it right. I don't want a TouchID-less phone that I have to bring up to my face to unlock or having to fumble on the back for the right spot.
31 months ago
This is a real nail-biter for Apple. Because what they really, certainly, cannot do, is have a fourth year with the 6-era industrial design. Keeping it for the 7 was pushing it.
31 months ago
Well, on the bright side, I'm fairly certain at this point that MacRumors could just put up one blog that says, "Everything is delayed" and take the rest of the year off.
31 months ago
Please don't put Touch ID on the back of the iPhone. If they can't put it in the screen they should just delay it until they get it right.
31 months ago
Nothing wrong with putting the Touch ID Sensor on the back of the phone. It may not be convenient since you need to pick up a phone off a table or desk, but the emphasis is being put on facial/Iris detection. As long as the sensor is always on and doesn't need an active backlit screen to activate, it should be fine.
I'll take bezels over Touch ID sensor on the back of the phone. If they move it to the back them I'll keep my current iPhone.
31 months ago
It'll be out in a few weeks. It's being called the Samsung Galaxy iPhone S8.
Really, the Galaxy S8 has a fingerprint reader below the screen? I thought they pulled a classic Samsung with the design and put it next to the camera on the back so that you're bound to leave smudges on the lens.
31 months ago
What's wrong with the current Touch ID design? It works so well that I can't think of any reason to mess with it.
31 months ago
Wouldn't Apple really be pushing a production timeline to not already have a finalized and functioning design and implementation plan in place?
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