Great iPhone 8 Design and New Feature Incorrectly Announced

While Apple is normally very good at keeping the big changes to the new iPhone a secret, two leaks from inside the official Apple code reveal the iPhone 8 design and the basis for a major new iPhone 8 feature.

Contrary to leaks and rumors from third-party sources, this one comes directly from Apple code that is part of the upcoming HomePod. This is close to the confirmation you’ll get for the new iPhone 8 features ahead of the September event announcing the new device and iPhone 8 release date.

Here’s a look at the new iPhone 8 design and what the iPhone 8 will likely use instead of Touch ID to unlock the device.

First off, we’re taking a look at a new bezel-less iPhone 8 design, thanks to Guilherme Rambo, iOS developer at Peixe Urbano. i found the picture above in the HomePod firmware. This image doesn’t show tons of details, but it’s a new look for the iPhone inside Apple devices. It looks very similar to the leaked iPhone 8 screen protectors that share a very similar look and Olixar iPhone 8 screen protector.

This little leak adds a lot of credibility to the iPhone 8 leaks that showcase a new design. This includes shredding the iPhone 8 CAD file. noduswhich the company uses to make iPhone 8 cases.

Besides seeing the outline of the new iPhone 8 design, we also learn about a possible new iPhone 8 feature. Steve Troughton-Smith He shares that he has discovered the new iPhone infrared face unlock feature within the HomePod firmware.

The code is part of BiometricKit, which Apple uses to unlock the iPhone. On current models, this is all about Touch ID, but with a new bezel-less design, there are rumors that the iPhone 8 won’t include Touch ID under the screen. Instead, the new iPhone can rely on a face unlock feature. It’s too early to tell if Touch ID has completely disappeared, but it’s a very good sign that Apple plans to add Face Unlock to the iPhone 8.

I can confirm the reports that the HomePod’s firmware is revealing the presence of infrared face unlock on the upcoming iPhone’s BiometricKit and elsewhere. pic.twitter.com/yLsgCx7OTZ

— Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) 31 July 2017

Face Unlock isn’t new to smartphones, but it’s something easier than beating fingerprints on competing phones. This code shows that Apple used 3D scans along with multiple controls to achieve the face unlock feature. Although no name, it could be Face ID or something more appealing. We’ve heard rumors of upgraded cameras for augmented reality that could include the ability to more accurately scan faces for an unlock mode.

We expect an Apple event in early September to announce the iPhone 7s and iPhone 8. With a release this close, there are plenty of reasons to wait for the iPhone 8 and iPhone 7s.