Here's What the Status Bar and iPad-Style Dock Could Look Like on 'iPhone 8' - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Here's What the Status Bar and iPad-Style Dock Could Look Like on 'iPhone 8'

Earlier today, well-connected Apple reporter Mark Gurman said the so-called "iPhone 8" will have a thin software-based bar along the bottom of the home screen, controlled by gestures, in lieu of a physical home button.

Gurman also said the Dock, which houses up to four commonly used apps, will be redesigned with a new interface similar to the one on the iPad version of iOS 11. Above it, there will still be six rows of apps, with up to 24 apps per page.

The status bar is said to be split into left and right sides, which some Apple employees supposedly call "ears" internally. By default, the left side shows the time, while the right side displays Wi-Fi, signal bars, and battery life.

With those details in mind, graphic designer Olivier Charavel created a mockup of what the Home screen could look like on the iPhone 8.

iphone 8 mockup with dock and gesture bar
Charavel also shared a mockup of Apple's Health app as an example of what apps could look like on the iPhone 8 accordingly.

iphone 8 health
Gurman said users can drag the gesture bar up to the middle of the screen to unlock the device. When inside an app, a similar gesture starts multitasking, and users can continue to flick upwards to close the app and go back to the home screen.

Guilherme Rambo shared a video that demonstrates how it could look once the Dock has been summoned, based on Apple's iOS simulator for developers.

More Coverage: iOS 11 Dock and Gesture Controls to Replace "iPhone 8" Home Button Entirely by Tim Hardwick

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro: Pre-Orders and Release Date

Sunday August 16, 2026 8:24 pm PDT by
Apple has yet to reveal when the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra will be announced and released, but the dates usually follow a familiar pattern. As usual, the event is expected to take place in the first half of September. Labor Day falls on September 7 this year. The last time the holiday was on that day was in 2020, but the iPhone event that year was delayed until October due to the...
iPhone 17 One Year Later Thumb 1

Should You Buy an iPhone 17 Now or Wait for iPhone 18?

Friday August 14, 2026 12:15 pm PDT by
For the first time since Apple started selling standard and "Pro" iPhones, we're not going to get an entry-level iPhone model this fall. Apple doesn't plan to release an iPhone 18 in September, and will only launch the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone Ultra. The lower-cost iPhone 18 won't come out until spring 2027. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more ...
iPhone 18 Pro Dark Cherry Feature

iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra: New Details Leak as Apple Event Nears

Monday August 17, 2026 11:09 am PDT by
"iPhone Ultra" supply will be very limited when the foldable device is first released later this year, according to Fixed Focus Digital, a known leaker on the Chinese social media platform Weibo. The account also claimed that the iPhone 18 Pro's A20 Pro chip will be up to 18% faster and up to 30% more power efficient compared to the iPhone 17 Pro's A19 Pro chip. The A20 Pro chip will be the...

Top Rated Comments

Dwalls90 Avatar
117 months ago
Okay, but really hope app "cards" look like this instead of the Health app picture in the article.

Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
redscull Avatar
117 months ago
Really hoping there is still some sort of "home button" in software. I can't see any kind of usability at all with some hidden idea of "gestures" to get things done. I just can't see my mother (or any older person) being comfortable with an iPhone that doesn't have an obvious "home" button, even if it's a virtual one drawn in the same place on the screen as the hardware one.
Strongly agree. Apple has been reducing usability steadily ever since they shed skeumohism, which is when a hardware design expert started pretending he was skilled at software user experience design. Getting rid of the home button is that final step in eliminating what made the iPhone so approachable to so many. It's a sad day if true.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
drinkingtea Avatar
117 months ago
Ugly, honestly.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MareLuce Avatar
117 months ago
This I'm okay with. Show carrier name when swiping down like Android and it'll be fine. Just don't get rid of the clock!
Excellent point - the carrier name won't be visible.

Yay! Be gone, extraneous data.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
117 months ago
Really hoping there is still some sort of "home button" in software. I can't see any kind of usability at all with some hidden idea of "gestures" to get things done. I just can't see my mother (or any older person) being comfortable with an iPhone that doesn't have an obvious "home" button, even if it's a virtual one drawn in the same place on the screen as the hardware one.

My expectation is the virtual home button will automatically appear "on raise", based on the motion and proximity sensors.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
117 months ago
I want to reserve judgement but I'm not gonna. Hate the notch. Hate it. My brain will never accept the visual distraction.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)