New details on Apple's upcoming iPhone 8 have emerged. The smartphone will reportedly feature a 5.8-inch OLED "fixed flex" wraparound display that will use a laser and infrared sensor for facial and gesture recognition.
It Just Works
Apple is well-known for putting a major focus on the user interface of its devices and software in order to provide an experience that "just works." Whether it's the iPod's Click Wheel, iPhone's Multi-Touch display, or MacBook Pro's combination of Touch Bar and Force Touch trackpad, interacting with the devices for most becomes intuitive and second nature.
As iPhone display sizes continue to increase, using the smartphone with one hand has gotten more difficult. Apple tried to remedy the issue when it launched the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus in 2014 by adding Reachability. The feature allows users to double-tap the home button (double-press opens app switcher), which moves the top half of the content on the display to the bottom half, making it easier to use the smartphones with one hand.
iPhone 8/iPhone X To Bring Large Display With Facial Gesture Recognition
A new report claims that Apple is planning to add a major new feature to its rumored 5.8-inch iPhone 8 that will make it even easier to use the small tablet-sized device with one hand. The iPhone 8 is referred to as "iPhone X" and is said to feature a spacious 5.8-inch OLED "fixed flex" wraparound display with embedded Touch ID that will be able to recognize facial and gesture controls.
The iPhone 8 will supposedly include a new laser and infrared sensor that will be located near its front-facing FaceTime HD camera. This would allow users to control the 5.8-inch smartphone with their head through gestures while holding the device with one hand. Apple has already laid the groundwork for this feature, as it's been part of iOS since iOS 7. "Switch Control" uses camera-based gesture technology that allows a user to use head gestures to highlight an on-screen option and select it.
Laser And Infrared Sensors Coming To Next iPhone?
Of course, with laser and infrared sensors, the iPhone 8 would be more feature rich and advanced in terms of facial gestures than "Switch Control." The larger 5.8-inch OLED display would also allow Apple to possibly add the same gestures available on iPads, such as pinch to home screen, swipe up to the app switcher, and swipe left or right between apps.
The report also backs up multiple claims that the iPhone 8 will support wireless charging out of the box as one of its major new features. The iPhone 8 will be positioned as a higher-end 10th anniversary iPhone that will launch alongside the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus in September.
