Rosenblatt: 40 million iPhone 8 units to ship in the second half of 2017; model's 3D sensor leaks

Rosenblatt analyst Jun Zhang apparently has a large number of fingers and toes. Zhang expects 35 million to 40 million units of the Apple iPhone 8 to ship in the second half of this year. That would include less than three full months of availability for the iPhone 8. The analyst says that a low yield rate will prevent Apple from including a fingerprint scanner on the iPhone 8. Instead, Apple will use a facial recognition system that unlocks the phone and verifies identity in "millionths of a second."

Breaking down the shipping data, Zhang calls for 5 million iPhone 8 units to ship in the third quarter of this year followed by 30 million to 35 million in the fourth quarter. As for the Apple iPhone 7s and Apple iPhone 7s Plus, the analyst estimates that 15 million of these will ship in Q3 with 35 million getting delivered in the fourth quarter.

In addition, a picture of what is said to be the 3D sensing module for the iPhone 8 was leaked. This is related to the front-facing camera system that KGI Securities Ming-Chi Kuo called "revolutionary" back in February. Sometime next month, we should learn all about this revolutionary technology. While the 3D sensing is expected on the front of the iPhone 8, for 2018 and beyond, this technology is expected to be found on the back of the iPhone in conjunction with the rear-facing camera.

source: StreetInsider, SlashLeaks