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No 'wraparound' iPhone 8 display? Apple reportedly opts for simpler flat OLED screen

By Daniel Petrov

Updated: Apr 18, 2017, 9:01 AM

24comments

Despite the overwhelming amount of rumors from various analysts and publications that Apple will release an OLED iPhone 8 with a wraparound display of sorts, the Apple-centric Japanese blog Macotakara now begs to differ. We will entertain their say, as those guys have been correct on many an Apple rumor in the past, and they now claim that the "iPhone Edition" has been more or less finalized in terms of design decisions, and these do include the speculated glass sandwich design on a stainless steel frame, but the OLED panel will be a flat one.

The thing is, Macotakara says, that all those analyst predictions about the OLED iPhone 8 are based on supply chain sources procuring parts for various prototypes of a special edition iPhone that are still in the EVT (Engineering Verification Testing) stage. This means that Apple still hasn't decided on the final look and feel, and is currently sourcing parts for the DVT (Design Verification Testing) stage, on which analysts are basing their memos to clients about Apple's 2017 plans. These parts include white ceramic, glass, metal, and other more or less exotic chassis materials, as well as both flexible or flat OLED screens, as well as IPS-LCD displays. They were also said to include designs with and without a Touch ID button, with face scanners, and so on.

Well, the iPhone 8 "Edition" model has apparently passed the EVT stage, and is now in the DVT process, meaning that the chassis has more or less been agreed upon, and Apple has reportedly decided on a flat edge-to-edge OLED display, instead of a more complex curved one that is of dubious usefulness, save for aesthetic purposes, but requires much more extra steps and retooling of the factories to make. The glass sandwich design will be a tribute to iPhones of yesteryear, with a new stainless steel twist for the frame. Other than those tidbits, Macotakara tips that the iPhone 8 will sport a dual camera with vertically situated lenses, which will eventually be utilized for augmented reality shenanigans, based on Apple's recent investments in that realm.

A virtual home key will also make a cameo at the bottom part of the display, or, as analyst Ming Chi Kuo calls it, "the active area," but the Japanese blog hasn't heard much about where the finger scanning will go, as it was unable to confirm the rumors for an in-screen module just yet. Apple may be having trouble placing the scanner underneath the display, just like Samsung had with the S8, and opted for a rear one at the last minute. Oh, well, the idea for a wraparound iPhone 8 display was good while it lasted, but let's not forget this is all still rumors and speculations, so who knows what will happen between now and September, if Apple outs the phone then.

source: MacOtakara (translated) via AppleInsider

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.